Well known Kiwi boxer Shane Cameron is a regular at the Northcote Tavern. It’s his local. Shane was brought up in a little place called Tiniroto. A Google search tells us this is a small farming and forestry community on the inland road from Gisborne to Wairoa. Shane is probably the small town’s most famous son. Coming from small town New Zealand is why he loves the community feel of the Northcote Tavern. He says it reminds him of the Tiniroto Tavern, back home. Channel Mag’s Aidan Bennett met him for a chat for ‘TavTalk’ at the Northcote Tavern in mid-June.
AIDAN BENNETT: What are your first memories of going to the Northcote Tavern?
SHANE CAMERON: The first time I came here was to get Billy and Kim to support my fight night events a few years back. We needed a venue for the weigh-ins and after functions and the Tavern was the perfect spot. They have been great supporters of our fight nights now for the past six or seven years.
AB: How often do you try to pop in for a drink or a meal?
SC: We’ve had the gym in Onewa Road (Shane Cameron Fitness) for around seven years. So it has been our local since that time. I now live in Birkdale so spend a great deal of time in this area. I often come for a beer with the locals and love the food. We have our some of our Shane Cameron Fitness team meetings and functions down here as well.
AB: What is your favourite tipple when you visit the Tavern?
SC: Summit beer is a favourite and I also enjoy a good old Heineken.
AB: The Tavern has a reputation for great pub food as well. Do you have something on the menu that’s a favourite?
SC: I love the steak, chips and eggs meal they do. Their brand new kitchen area is looking pretty good.
AB: What is it that you enjoy about the Northcote Tavern?
SC: Coming from the little country village of Tiniroto, that has its own friendly tavern, this place does remind me of home. It has a great culture even though it is very much in the middle of our biggest city. I love to pop in and mix with the variety of people. Locals, tradies… there’s a real mixture of people – certainly not just one demographic. It’s always a friendly place with somebody interesting to chat to.
AB: What is Shane Cameron up to these days?
SC: My partner Casey and I live at Birkdale. I have two beautiful kids – Georgia, aged 14, and Shane Junior, aged five. We love living and working in this community. I had my last fight in 2014 and since that time have been running the gym and also promoting my Shane Cameron ‘Counter Punch’ Fight Nights which are broadcast live on SkyTV. These are at Eventfinda Stadium (North Shore Events Centre). We do three events a year. Life’s good!
Visit: www.shanecameronfitness.co.nz or www.counterpunch.co.nz
Northcote Tavern: 37 Queen Street, Northcote Point, Auckland 0627, New Zealand. Phone 480 7707 or email: hello@northcotetavern.co.nz
