Community team appointed to govern vital sports hub

Te Puāwaitanga – Bay of Islands Sports Hub is in good hands. A new board has been appointed to guide the multi-sports complex through the next stage of its development.

Far North District Council opened the hub in Waipapa in 2025, as a much-needed response to a shortage of facilities in the district.

At the council’s request, Sport Northland convened an appointments panel, which has now confirmed six new board members nominated by the community. Ngāti Rēhia has added its representative and a council appointee has completed the full board membership.

Sport Northland’s Stu Middleton says all eight board members have an impressive range of experience and skill between them.

“The community nominated quality candidates, who are deeply committed to the sporting, educational, business and cultural life of the district. This ranges from involvement in tourism and finance to iwi, educational, and even conservation projects.”

At their first meeting on Wednesday 27 May, board members unanimously elected Mike Simm and Kipa Munro (Ngāpuhi: Ngāti Rēhia. Ngāti Kurī)as co-chairs. They will be familiar to many, thanks to decades of extensive community involvement and governance experience.

The board will ensure the smooth operation of the hub’s two sand-based and three soil-based fields six days a week, while exploring options for future development.

Te Puāwaitanga boards members are (in alphabetical order):

• Chris Galbraith
• Dean Smith
• James Coleman
• Kelly Stratford, FNDC Councillor (council appointment)
• Kipa Munro (Ngāti Rēhia appointment)
• Mike Simm
• Tawhi Tua (Ngāpuhi, Ngātiwai)
• Tony Kemp (Ngāpuhi: Ngāti Rēhia, Ngāti Hine).

You can read more about Te Puāwaitanga on our website. More details will be added to this link soon about the new board members, their experience and backgrounds.

Image: Te Puāwaitanga's new board. From left to right: Tony Kemp, Tawhi Tua, Mike Simm, Kipa Munro, James Coleman, Dean Smith. Absent: Chris Galbraith, Kelly Stratford.