Page 78 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2023

DAVE VAN
ZWANENBERG (2005)

Dave graduated from the Royal Veterinary
College with a BVetMed (2005). He
was a vet, a partner at Kumeu vet clinic
Vets North, a pilot, a volunteer firefighter
and father of two. Dave worked for the
Muriwai Volunteer Fire Brigade in New
Zealand, and whilst working on a rescue
operation during Cyclone ‘Gabrielle’ in
Auckland, tragically lost his life.
In February, Stuart Reid, said:
“As the news comes in of Dave Van
Zwanenberg’s death our thoughts are
with his family. It is a reminder that our
colleagues often contribute far beyond
their professional veterinary skills to their
communities and, sadly, sometimes at
their personal cost. Dave is remembered
here at the RVC and across the miles,
we extend our sympathies to those
closest to him and those people in
critical need he was serving”.
The following is a statement written by
Dave’s wife, Amy van Zwanenberg,
in February 2023.

help his community. Reliability and recovery. It grew a new depth to my
dependability were his core values, gratitude for the courageous crews who
whatever the weather. had continued to search for my husband
under absolutely atrocious conditions
Dave was blessed with the unique and threat to their own safety. It was
abilities, so few possess, to not palpable that they had been searching
only survive but thrive in extreme for one of their own and they devoted
environments and circumstances, themselves to that impossible task
performing complex tasks and caring with the fervour one does for their own
Kind, hard-working and for others calmly under pressure. He family. I am deeply grateful to Urban
adventurous used this multifaceted skill set in his Search and Rescue, the NZ Police
profession as a veterinarian, where so
My family is utterly devastated by the many have benefited from his care and and all the fire and emergency crews
sudden loss of my extraordinary husband, in his personal pursuits as a pilot, kite involved, but especially Dave’s brigade
Dave van Zwanenberg, who was the surfer and ultra-marathon runner. who have been so deeply affected.
cornerstone of our lives. I would also like to publicly thank my
But he also loved a good book on
First and foremost, a family man, Dave the deck. dear friends who have immediately
was dedicated to spending quality time come to my little family’s aid and
with his children and building a life to Dave will be remembered for his supported us with their special talents,
nurture their growth. We decided that good humour, his authentic care, his caring for us emotionally and practically
Muriwai and its beautiful community was astronomic intelligence and supreme and wrapping us in love through this
the perfect place for this. competence at pretty much anything he horrendous time. You give me strength
turned his hand too! to continue to be the Mum I need to be,
Monday night started out as just another to help Dave’s beautiful children thrive
occasion where Dave made sure we Yesterday I was able to see the search despite this pain, and be the legacy that
were settled and safe at home and site and speak to some of those who he would be most proud of.
headed out to join the fire brigade and had been involved in his rescue and

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