Kia Kaha, Kia Ora | Be Active, Be Well
OUR TEAM
Our Story, Our Staff and Our Board Members
OUR STORY
Sport Hawke’s Bay exists to enhance the health and wellbeing of Hawke's Bay by influencing, enabling and supporting our communities to be more physically active.
To achieve this, we focus on:
Established in 1989, Sport Hawke’s Bay is a network of regional sports trusts throughout the country. We are seen as an independent voice of play, active recreation, and sport, using physical activity to encourage people to live a more active and healthier lifestyle. The Sport Hawke’s Bay head office is based at Pettigrew Green Arena in Taradale, with offices also in Waipukurau and Wairoa.
Sport Hawke’s Bay is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Graeme Taylor and managed by a Chief Executive, Ryan Hambleton.
The programmes and services managed by Sport Hawke’s Bay are available for all communities in the Hawke’s Bay region.
OUR BOARD
Graeme Taylor 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 Whanganui, the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation and most recently (now 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.
Graeme is a member of the Sport Hawke's Bay Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.
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.
Heidi Beech joined the Board in 2020, is a chartered accountant and has been involved in sport administration for much of her career with financial management roles with New Zealand Rugby Union in Wellington and Eden Park Trust in Auckland. Heidi was also recently the Governance and Projects Manager for Unity Credit Union.
Heidi is the Chair of the Sport Hawke's Bay Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.
Dionne Thomas joined the Board in 2018 and 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.
Dionne is also Chair of the Hawke's Bay Secondary School Management Committee.
Rawinia Lewis 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 joined the Board in November 2021 and brings a strong connection to the education and sport sector. Tania 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 is also a member of the Sport Hawke's Bay Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.
Lisa Pohatu 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 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.
Mat Arcus 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 also a member of the Sport Hawke's Bay Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.
Hine Flood 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.
Prue Younger was CEO of FICA (Forest Industry Contractors Association) and the owner/director of Public Impressions, a Hawke’s Bay based marketing and communications agency. A former CEO of Eastland Wood Council, Prue has also been a trustee for the Hawke’s Bay Community Fitness Trust and served on several boards including NZCT Regional Advisory Group (Chair), Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti (Chair), and Connext Trust (Chair) and the Fencing Contractors Association. Prue brings seasoned experience in starting, growing, and developing a business, as well as governance and relationship building capability. Prue joined the Board in April 2024.
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
RYAN HAMBLETON
022 365 4060
Chief Executive Officer
ryanh@sporthb.net.nz
SUE SMITH
022 035 3685
General Manager
sues@sporthb.net.nz
SARA BIRD
027 357 5989
Wairoa Community Centre Manager / He Oranga Poutama Lead
sarab@sporthb.net.nz
TRACY WILTON
Finance Manager
tracyw@sporthb.net.nz
CORPORATE
AMANDA LEMALU
Human Resources Advisor
amandal@sporthb.net.nz
MADELIEN SCHOLTEN
Marketing and Communications Advisor
madeliens@sporthb.net.nz
MEL SINDEN
Receptionist/Administrator
mels@sporthb.net.nz
PLAY, ACTIVE RECREATION AND SPORT
CAITLIN MCIVOR
Play, Active Recreation and Sport Team Lead
caitlinm@sporthb.net.nz
TIM MOTU
Sport Development Lead
timm@sporthb.net.nz
BLANCHE PAEWAI-ASHCROFT
Disability and Inclusion Advisor
blanchep@sporthb.net.nz
KATE BENNY
Sport Development Lead
kateb@sporthb.net.nz
JEWELL CARLSON
Rangatahi Active Recreation Advisor
jewellc@sporthb.net.nz
jewellc@sporthb.net.nz
SOPHIE HICKFORD
Community Sport Advisor
sophieh@sporthb.net.nz
CURRENTLY ON MATERNITY LEAVE
PIA BRADSHAW
Play Lead
piab@sporthb.net.nz
TINA HASLETT
Spaces and Places Lead
tinah@sporthb.net.nz
OLIVIA MCKINNON
Secondary School Sport Director
oliviam@sporthb.net.nz
KELLY SIM
Community Partnerships Advisor
kellys@sporthb.net.nz
HEALTHY ACTIVE LEARNNG
DANIELLE PAKI
Healthy Active Learning - Team Lead
daniellep@sporthb.net.nz
VANESSA OLIVER
Healthy Active Learning - Advisor
vanessao@sporthb.net.nz
ZOE CLINNICK
Healthy Active Learning - Advisor
zoec@sporthb.net.nz
RENEE TATE
Healthy Active Learning - Community Developer
reneet@sporthb.net.nz
SALLY MCKENZIE
Healthy Active Learning - Advisor
sallym@sporthb.net.nz
TINA AFFLECK
Healthy Active Learning - Community Connector
tinaa@sporthb.net.nz
SYDNEY RORE
Healthy Active Learning - Community Developer
sydneyr@sporthb.net.nz
JEREMY SENIOR
Healthy Active Learning - Advisor jeremys@sporthb.net.nz
WAIROA COMMUNITY CENTRE
SARA BIRD
Wairoa Community Centre
Managersarab@sporthb.net.nz
DENICE GASSON
Active Living Advisor
deniceg@sporthb.net.nz
DEIDRE JONES
Office Administrator
deidrej@sporthb.net.nz
GREEN PRESCRIPTION
RACHEL GUNSON
Health Team Lead
rachelg@sporthb.net.nz
MARIA BLATCH
Active Living Advisormariab@sporthb.net.nz
AMANDA MCINNES
Active Living Advisor
amandam@sporthb.net.nz
JANE DENBY
Active Living Advisor
janed@sporthb.net.nz
ROBIN PIGGOT
Active Families Advisor
robinp@sporthb.net.nz
DIANA BOOTH
Community Cycling and Walking Development Officer
dianab@sporthb.net.nz
EANA YOUNG
Active Recreation Team Leader
eanay@sporthb.net.nz
RYLIE BENSEMANN
Active Families Advisor
rylieb@sporthb.net.nz
HE ORANGA POUTAMA
ESTA WAINOHU
Kaiwhakahaere He Oranga Poutama ki te Wairoa
estaw@sporthb.net.nz
MEL GOODCHILD
Kaiwhakahaere He Oranga Poutama ki te Matau a Māui
melg@sporthb.net.nz
LYRIC WESCHE
Kaiwhakahaere He Oranga Poutama ki Te Matau a Māui
lyricw@sporthb.net.nz
ADDRESS
Wairoa Community Centre
33 MARINE PARADE
WAIROA
PHONE
(06) 838 3086
EMAIL
WAIROACC@SPORTHB.NET.NZ
Sport Hawkes Bay
480 GLOUCESTER STREET
PO BOX 7537, TARADALE
PHONE
(06) 845 9333
EMAIL
ACTIVE@SPORTHB.NET.NZ
SPONSORS