Hoe Tonga has received three nominations for our upcoming AGM, with two board positions up for election.

In line with section 13 of Hoe Tonga’s constitution, each member club has one vote. Voting will take place by postal (email) vote. Each club is asked to submit votes for up to two out of three nominations to hoetonga@gmail.com by 4 September 2022. Voting results will be confirmed at the AGM on 5 September 2022 (see previous post for details).

The nominations are as follows:

• Stacey Agnew
• Charmaine Matiaha
• Anita Taggart

A profile has been supplied for each nomination below:

Profile for Stacey Agnew:

I am a strong believer in the importance of strategic governance and supporting your community. For seven years I contributed to my sons’ primary school as a parent representative on the Silverstream School Board of Trustees. During the last year of my term I was the Board Chairperson

It would be my privilege to serve our Waka Ama community on the Hoe Tonga board. My boys have both benefitted from the sport in their primary school years and have now continued into college sport. My husband and I also enjoy the paddling community and events both in our area and nationally.

I am a skilled communicator with strong relationship skills. My corporate wellbeing experience stands me in good stead to develop strategic goals, particularly those focused on the development of people.

I have outlined a variety of examples that prove I have the following skills, which I would be comfortable to utilise during my time on the Hoe Tonga Board, dependent on those needed by the collective board and the strategic goals we are seeking to achieve.

• Leadership. Four years as Practice Manager of Instep EAP business and one year as Silverstream School Board of Trustees Chairperson
• A knowledge of Tikanga Māori.  I have been a Primary teacher for over ten years, often with  responsibilities for Tikanga Maori delivery. This year I completed a two day Tiriti o Waitangi wananga.
• Strategic Thinking. Complete leadership team restructure. Two new build projects. Completed business sale process and integration.
• Ethical, open, honest, trustworthy, high levels of integrity. In my current role where we support large corporates to look after the Wellbeing of their people, I have to embody these attributes constantly.
• Inter-personal communication skills. These skills have been developed through my years as an educator and I continue to hone them running meetings and presentations as part of my daily mahi
• Ability to establish quality relationships. My current role is to manage large corporate customer relationships with the likes of Air New Zealand and Auckland Council. Building strong relationships is essential and I manage large networks of people.
• Good understanding of the principles of Governance and Management. My seven years on the Silverstream School Board of Trustees helped my understanding of Governance.
• Ability to work as a team player. Whether leading or contributing to a team, I enjoy working with others to achieve solid results. In my current role I lead our team RFP

Reason for nomination by member club:

It is without hesitation that Hīkoikoi Waka ama nominates Stacey Agnew to a position on Hoe Tonga Board recognising not only her committment to waka ama as a paddler, supporter and advocate, but through her career and role Wellbeing Experience Manager for Skills Consulting Group.

Stacey’s involvement in waka ama has been largely been driven by her support of club paddling and competition particularly supporting her sons with College sport. She is engaging and positive and enjoys being part of  a network of like minded people. Waka ama is a natural fit for Stacey as it demonstrates and encourages connection with community,  the benefits of hauora (health and wellbeing) and provides an avenue for people from all walks of life to participate in activity.

As demonstrated in her current role at Skills Consulting Group Stacey has the attibutes required to identify and seek solutions on a strategic level that will benefit the development of our biggest resource (people). 

We look forward to supporting Stacey should she be selected as a Board Member and helping our region’s waka ama community to be the best it can be.

Profile for Charmaine Matiaha:

Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa

Living in South Wellington

Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua is the notion that one carries the past into the future. I first acknowledge my tipuna and inherited integrity, service and conscientious values gifted to me. As a youngster sport was an intrinsic part of my childhood. My parents exposed me to planning, organising, administration, establishment, and social skills.  In 1993 I transitioned from mainstream sport to reconnect with the moana, awa, and waka ama.

Ko au te hoe, ko te hoe ko au.  I am the paddle and the paddle is me.  Steering with intent, every stroke counts.  The complexities and articulation of this notion is intertwined in a mesh of life experiences, education, and camaraderie. My waka ama life for the last 29 years has served in club operations and committee leadership roles, Regional Coordinator, President and Nga Kaihoe o Aotearoa representative and National Secretary.  Key highlights have been supporting the formation of several new clubs, formation of the Te Waka o Aoraki region, growth in skill and event management in Hoe Tonga and the development of a robust National Sprint event infrastructure. Highest coaching achievement is contributing 9 medals to Aotearoa’s tally at the 2012 World Sprint Championship with paddlers all from the Hoe Tonga region. Professionally employed by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa – Whanganui as a waka ama coordinator for 7 years graduating over 300 students with boat skipper qualifications, event management, coaching and paddling skills. Duties for Whanganui District Council involved improving water safety and a collaborative effort with all water networks decreasing rate of drowning during my time to zero.  I have spent the last 8 years gifting back spare time as Trustee on Ngāti Ruanui and Ngā Rauru Boards, hapu and marae committees.

Hoe Tonga’s vision is to enable more people to participate, achieve and have a lifelong enjoyment in waka ama. It is very evident in my involvement across the different levels of waka ama – school, regional, national and international that we have the opportunity to grow and further enhance our reach within our communities and our region. There is a growing interest that we cannot ignore and untapped potential that we must unravel to enable us to deliver on the Hoe Tonga vision not just today but into the future. I strongly believe that through my experience, knowledge and network of partnerships not just within our region but across the motu that I can support Hoe Tonga to deliver on the vision as an active and committed Board member.

Reason for nomination by member club:

The executive committee from the Tai Tonga 41 Outrigger Canoe Club nominate Charmaine Matiaha to be a Hoe Tonga Board Member as a contribution to the Hoe Tonga Waka ama community.  She has proven experience and knowledge in a number of the whole board expectations.  A standout attribute is her strong waka ama knowledge and coaching ability and the leadership shown by her past success record. She understands leadership, strategic thinking and governance through a range of professional, iwi focused and volunteer roles. She also has a wide range of networks through these roles and experience. She has recently completed her President role for our club and would like to now give her time and energy to the wider Hoe Tonga environment. We fully endorse her nomination.

Profile for Anita Taggart:

Having been involved in the sport not only as a paddler but also previous involvement as Club Captain at Kokiri, I’d now like to contribute to the sport at a regional level. I’ve paddled at local, regional, national and international levels as well as coached at varying levels.

Therefore my experience and knowledge of the sport, as well as my networks are extensive. The core values of Hoe Tonga also align to my personal core values, therefore being part of an organisation that strives to lead, inspire and promote waka ama is one of my passions.

I understand that being involved as a board member requires dedication and commitment, of which I am prepared for. I have seen first-hand the relentless hard work that previous board members have put into supporting and promoting waka ama in this region, and I too would like to be part of the group working toward the vision of Hoe Tonga Pacifica Waka Ama
Association.

Reason for nomination by member club:

Anita’s experience of and contribution to waka ama over the past 20+ years has been inspirational to say the least. Her involvement at many different levels from assisting with the development of novice and social paddlers, right through to preparation for elite competition, places Anita in a unique position to promote and advocate for the culture and benefits of waka ama. Within her working life and paddling career Anita demonstrates manaaki, hauora and pono all attributes neccessary to be a Board member. Some of these include but are not limited to:

• Leadership in managing and promoting Māori health
• Honesty and integrity
• Health and wellbeing of whānau and community
• Relationships – network of paddlers regionally, nationally and internationally
• Understanding and experience as a volunteer within our sport, for club and regional level events
• Participation and experience in IVF World events
• Contribution to and understanding of Club Committee activities

Anita possesses an inner drive as demonstrated in her ability to complete a degree at Victoria University while undertaking full-time work, training, competition and most importantly supporting her whānau. Anita is well placed to contribute to Hoe Tonga’s vision and strategic plans to promote the benefits of waka ama in our region.