Dux at Horowhenua College and with a Bachelor of Commerce from Victoria University, Bruce Mansell moved to the Kapiti Coast in 1963.

A junior partner with Spackman Ballinger, Chartered Accountants, this firm became known as Mansell Associates, the successful and long running accounting practice which over the years has had many of Kapiti’s top accountants working in it.

Bruce has a talent for bringing the resources of progress together – people, land and money – and especially through the strong positive relationships built with the Ngahina Trust, he was a key driver behind the opening of Coastlands in 1969 and its major growth since. At the time, Coastlands was nationally recognisable as one of only two malls in New Zealand which opened on a weekend. For many Wellingtonians it put Kapiti on the map. Today it has over 5 million visitors per year and a turnover in excess of $275 million.

Working on boards and as a mentor, he has been involved in many other activities including the development of the Te Roto Industrial Estate, and as a residential developer in Waikanae.

A Justice of the Peace, long serving Rotarian and former President of the Waikanae Rotary Club, he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship, and was also a Jaycee and a Scouting Group Leader. He has been a coach and the Treasurer of the Waikanae Rugby Club, a member of the Raumati Swimming Club and is a Director of the Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Union.

Coastlands has over the years provided a great many sponsorships into the community, including most recently the naming rights to the Coastlands Aquatic Centre. These are further symbols of the huge contribution to the development of Kapiti made by Bruce Mansell