My Story

Real Estate Development & Queenstown Tourism Experience

  • 2015-Now
    Wellington Real Estate Specialist - Commercial & Residential
    Specialist Commercial and Residential Real Estate Broker in Wellington, capital city of New Zealand.
  • 1997 – 2015
    Whitby Coastal Estates - Family Land Development
    David was Managing Director of his family owned land development company known as Whitby Coastal Estates Ltd. Whitby is a middle, upper-middle class village of 15,000 residents located 30 minutes north of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. After subdividing and selling 500+ home sites, the balance of their suburban zoned land holdings have been sold.
  • 2004-2008
    Founder of Whitby Independent College
    David was the founder and owner of Whitby Independent College, the first independent (private) co-educational secondary school developed in the Wellington region for nearly 100 years. In 2008 Samuel Marsden Collegiate (one of the top 5 secondary schools in New Zealand) purchased Whitby Independent College from David and his family. The college has grown rapidly and now has over 200 students who travel from around the Wellington region to attend primary and secondary school in Whitby.
  • 1992-2002
    Managing Partner, Pabbay Holdings Ltd - Arrowtown Land Development
    Managing partner in Pabbay Holdings Ltd, a land development company that sold 84 home sites in Arrowtown, Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago.
  • 1989-1995
    Mayor of Queenstown-Lakes District & Key Tourism Roles (Two Terms)
    Elected Mayor of the Queenstown-Lakes District Council for two 3 year terms. The district encompasses Queenstown, Wanaka, Arrowtown, Makarora, Lake Hawea, Luggate, Glenorchy and Kingston communities and has grown rapidly into an internationally famous resort.
    During this time he was a Director of Queenstown Airport Corporation, Chairman of the QLDC Finance Committee and ex-officio director on Queenstown Promotion Board. Retired from local government office in November 1995 to pursue new business opportunities and spend more time with his family. Moved to Wellington in January 1996 when the Bradford’s eldest son started high school at Scots College.
  • 1989 – 1996
    Owner/MD, Turner Heights Townhouses Ltd. - NZ’s First Fractional Ownership Complex
    Owner/Managing Director of Turner Heights Townhouses Ltd. A complex of 12 apartments and townhouses in central Queenstown sold as New Zealand’s first fractional ownership complex with 48 quartershares. Turner Heights was very successful and is sold out
  • 1986 – 1991
    Founder, Southern Tourism Research - Queenstown Tourism Data & Consulting
    Established Southern Tourism Research and Marketing Ltd in response to a need for data on the emerging Queenstown tourist industry. Published “An Economic Profile of the Queenstown Tourism Industry”. Employed as consultant on a number of tourism and property projects including 6 months for Argus Questar on O’Connell’s Pavilion, Queenstown’s first retail shopping and office complex. Southern Tourism ceased activities because of Bradford’s Mayoral and local government commitments.
  • 1979 – 1992
    Owner/Manager, Turner Heights - NZ's First Holiday Timeshare Project
    Owner/ Marketer/ Manager of New Zealand’s first holiday timesharing project, Turner Heights Townhouses in Queenstown. Retained ownership of the property by selling 10 year ‘licence to occupy’ week long packages to over 200 families and individuals.
  • 1979 – 1992
    NZ Director, Australasian Timesharing Council - RCI Franchise Administration
    Elected as Director representing New Zealand on the Board of the Australasian Timesharing Council. This appointment involved attending 3-5 meetings a year in Sydney, Melbourne or Surfers Paradise to administer the Australasian franchise of Resorts Condominium International (RCI), a worldwide network of 1,100 resorts (now 6,000+ resorts in 78 countries) to deal with industry, government and regulatory issues.