Doug Eckhoff - busy in 'retirement'

12/2/2009

In the occupation line of his Foundation profile Doug Eckhoff (1954-55) lists himself as ‘retired’.

That is far from the truth.

As well as being the co-vice chairman of the New Zealand Council of Victim Support Groups, Doug is also the Lower Hutt group’s chairman and has been closely involved with the organisation for the past 16 years. He also serves on the national Board’s Finance and Audit Committee.

Doug Eckhoff (1954-1955)

As a member of the national Board, Doug is a strong advocate for the recognition of the community partnership function of lower group committees and their role as the key stakeholders of Victim Support.

Doug is a member of the Hutt Council for Social Services and works on a voluntary basis with the Refugee and Migrant Service, assisting in the re-settlement of refugees in the Lower Hutt region.

He is a Paul Harris Fellow and a Past President of the Rotary Club of Eastern Hutt, as well as being one of the founders of the New Zealand Film Archive in Wellington. He has been a member of its Board of Trustees since its inception in 1981. He is also on the committee of the National Press Club.

Doug has worked in all facets of the media as a journalist, editor and film producer – both in New Zealand overseas.

After being part of the library and drama committees while at school, Doug worked for the Otago Daily Times in 1956, the Clutha Leader in 1957 and for Kensley Newspapers Ltd in England from 1958 to 1962. That was just the beginning.

Prior to ‘retiring’ in 2003, Doug had been the Head of Communications for both the Department of Justice and the Electoral Commission (1990-2003), he was a former Chief Executive of the New Zealand National Film Unit (1980-90), and the Head of News and Current Affairs for the Television One network (1974-80).

He is the author of a number of publications, including ‘Reflections of Campbell House’, and was the Executive Producer of the New Zealand feature film ‘The Scarecrow’.

Doug also spends part of each week working as a voluntary tutor in reading with children at a primary school in Lower Hutt.