He has become a reference point for the Council on architectural heritage matters, and is a Trustee of the Whanganui Regional Heritage Trust which advocates for heritage conservation locally and regionally. As a founder member of Mainstreet Whanganui he has acted as Chair of the Design Heritage Committee for most of Mainstreet’s 25 years of operation. He is also a staunch champion of preserving Whanganui’s tree filled avenues. Bruce continues to play a role in advising private citizens and groups on conserving heritage, which has been identified by the Whanganui District Council as one of the most distinctive and important factors in Whanganui’s future as a city to attract new residents and tourists.