HOWARD PEETI

Peeti joins Maori Rugby Board

Timaru Herald : Stu Piddington 5 September 2012

Timaru's Howard Peeti has replaced his friend Smiley Haua on the New Zealand Maori Rugby Board.

Haua died in January and Peeti was elected to take his place on the Te Waipounamu board.

"I was then nominated as vice chair for the Te Waipounamu Maori Rugby Board, which followed my nomination as the second delegate from the Te Waipounamu to New Zealand.

"My role on the NZMRB is a joint voice between myself and Walter Waka (Te Tau Ihu) as the representatives of Te Waipounamu (Southern)."

"I enjoy the new challenge of being part of such a high profile board, the people I get to meet while building new friendships, the game in itself be it club, representative or Maori rugby," Peeti said.

His first involvement in Maori rugby was in 1999 when his good friend Darren Holden asked him to play for Aoraki.

Holden then introduced him to the man who reinvigorated local Maori rugby, Haua.

"My wife, Erica, was first to be involved with the administrative side, as one of two delegates for Aoraki in 2003."

Te Waipounamu is divided into five regions, Te Tau Ihu (Tasman), Waitaha (Canterbury), Aoraki (Mid/South Canterbury, North Otago), Otakou (Otago) Murihiku (Southland).

Peeti started as assistant manager for the TW colts team in 2006 and progressed to be their senior manager in 2009 to today.

Peeti was born in Whanganui and his iwi is Te Ati Haunui a Paparangi, with his family he moved to Timaru in March 1998 for work and new adventures.

Peeti has been a member of Harlequins since its amalgamation and has been heavily involved, first as a player until 2004, then six years as the senior manager, as well as being on the committee since 2008.

The past two seasons he and Steve Foster have coached the senior Harlequins side to the final.

Peeti admits he is an avid follower of the All Blacks and is also a loyal supporter of the Hurricanes.

He has split loyalty between his home town of Whanganui and South Canterbury when it comes to Heartland rugby, while also remaining interested in Whanganui club rugby.