David is a well known national figure in both Surf Life Saving and Inline Speed Skating. He has recently been awarded a New Zealand Surf Life Saving Association Service Award. He also holds an Otago / Southland Surf Life Saving Regional Service Award and the Association’s Support Person of the Year Award.

Since 2003 he has been a surf life saving official, locally, regionally and nationally. Since 2019 he has been the Deputy Referee for the National Inflatable Rescue Boat Racing competitions and since 2018, he has been the South Island Inflatable Rescue Boat Event Referee. David has been a member of the St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club since 1991. He has been a club committee member, social convener and purchasing officer.

From 2002-2014 he was captain of the Nude Blacks Rugby team. The team made the international news on a number of occasions capturing the medias interest before test matches.

David has been a National and International Speed Skating Referee, from 2000 as an Assistant Referee and since 2002 as a Referee. He has been the Otago Team manager, coach and delegate to national meetings. In 1994 he became a Speed Skating Official Class 1, then Class 2 in 1996 before reaching Class 3 in 1998.

Since 1997 he has been the New Zealand Inline Skating Speed Team selector for Senior and Junior World and Oceania events. He has also been the Team Assistant at these events. David has been a Member of the Federation of Roller Skating since 1980.

In 1983 David became Volunteer Community Charitable Helper with the Eastern Dunedin Lions Club. The club went into recess in 2008. A group from the Lions Club then set up the Eastern Dunedin Charity Club which David has worked with since then raising funds to support many needy local groups.