Sport Hawke's Bay

Graeme Taylor

Graeme joined the Board in December 2016 and became Chair in October 2021. A current Napier City Councillor for the Taradale Ward, Graeme brings a strong background in the sport sector. He has been chief executive of Sport Wanganui, the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation and recently retired as General Manager of Napier District Masonic Trust. Graeme is married to Wendy with two adult children and four grandchildren. Graeme has a interest in most sports, is an active cyclist, avid hunter gatherer, average golfer, enjoys travel and spending time with family and friends.

Naomi Fergusson

Naomi Fergusson joined the Board in May 2016. In her first Board appointment, Naomi brings a strong background in marketing and communications, currently with Hastings District Council, and previously for global swim and triathlon brand, Blueseventy. Naomi is passionate about high performance sport, having competed for many years in triathlon, and also the long-term health of sporting and recreational organisations, having previously worked closely with volunteers and clubs in roles with both Triathlon Hawke’s Bay and Surf Lifesaving Hawke’s Bay.

Dionne Thomas

Dionne Thomas joined the Board in 2018. She brings a strong background in education and sport. Having trained as a Physical Education teacher at Otago University, Dionne is currently Principal at Karamu High School. She is an inaugural member of the Hawkes Bay Netball Board, and other board representations include Clifton Reserve Society and Clifton Marine Club. She is still actively involved with netball as a player and officiator and hockey as a spectator mum/wife.

Rawinia Lewis

Rawinia joined the Board in November 2022. Rawinia has an extensive background in health and social development, having held senior policy and management roles in the public sector. Rawinia currently works for the commercial board of Ngāti Kahungunu looking after their interests in farming, fishing, forestry and property. She is actively involved in netball as a player and is a trained yoga teacher. Reflecting the Te Whare Tapa Wha model, Rawinia appreciates the positive benefits sports and physical activity can have on many aspects of a young person’s life - particularly young wahine - having two daughters aged 12 and 14 who are involved in multiple sports.

Tania Karauria

Tania joined the Board in November 2021 and brings a strong connection to the education and sport sector. Tania recently returned to Hawke’s Bay after 20 years in Auckland and is excited about making a positive contribution to the sport and recreation sector both as a new Sport Hawke’s Bay trustee, and to community and performance sport. Tania wants to use her experience and involvement in sport to be able to support existing and new opportunities for people across Hawke’s Bay to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for themselves and their whānau.

Lisa Pohatu

Lisa joined the Board in November 2021, which complements her professional background in public health and as a consultant for Kahui Tautoko Consultancy, which specialises in indigenous community development in health, education, sports and physical wellbeing in New Zealand and Canada. Lisa believes that physical activity has such an important role in our health and wellbeing and is looking to support Sport Hawke’s Bay to create more opportunities for people to be active.

Chris Petersen

Chris joined the board in November 2022, bringing a strong background in Marketing and Communications. Chris recently returned home to Hawkes Bay after 18 years away, working for a number of large global packaged goods companies and is currently the innovation and Sales Manager for Greenmount Foods. With a young family, Chris is excited about being a part of Sport Hawke's Bay as he hopes physical recreation and sports are as much a part of his children's lives as it was for him growing up.

Mathew Arcus

Mat joined the Board in November 2022 and brings a strong connection to local sport and business. A Chartered Accountant, Mat is the current Director of Huddle Advisory, leading a small team of industry-leading financial experts, advisers, and forward-thinking strategists. Mat has had a long involvement in sport, particularly rugby union at all levels including school and junior and senior club with Havelock North Rugby Club where he is the current manager of the Premier side. His active family are involved in a wide range of sporting opportunities throughout the region with his sons playing representative canoe polo.

Mat is a member of the Sport Hawke's Bay Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.

Hine Flood

Hine joined the Board in April 2023 and brings a strong connection to Wairoa, local government, rural education and the health sector. Based in Wairoa, Hine is the Community Educator for Tairawhiti REAP, Director on Health Hawke's Bay,, and serves on the regional LAC Fire and Emergency. An advocate for physcial activity and health, Hine has been instrumental is the establishment of a number of local initatives for Wairoa, including supporting the introduction of Pickleball for the community. Hine has previously been a Wairoa District Council Councillor and Deputy Mayor.