On my father's side I am a mokopuna of two South Taranaki Iwi, Ngā Rauru Kītahi and Ngā Ruahine Rangi. On my mother's side I am the product of determined settler families with Dutch, English and Scottish heritage. I grew up in North New Brighton in Christchruch, I moved to Wellington to teach in Naenae Lower Hutt then travelled overseas to then return to Wellington and I now live in Tauranga. I am a proud mother of 3 children who are the very expression of our current generation. I work in coaching, advisory and mentoring roles in both High-Performance Sport and Community Sport and support my husband with our family Structural Steel business. Being a TDF Mentor involves upholding the Mana of a dear friend Tania Dalton in a style that matches her bombastic, joyful and adventurous approach to sport and life. Her values of friendship, openness and inclusiveness are key to who she was, as they say "she could walk with Kings and nor lose her common touch", I think thats how the Kipling quote goes? Anyway, we all miss her and it is a big responsibility to uphold her essence for life, in how we mentor young women through TDF. I mentor Renee Holmes, Ruby Tawa and Khiarna Williams. All three have landed in their roles through sheer determination to work through the usual challenges that sport throws infront of young people. They always crack me up, because I see what they do and how they think and I can often recall either myself or Tania doing something similar. So the shared experience and the opportunity to walk beside the girls to "awhi" them or "Auntie" them when they need it works well. Tania was someone who had a constant smile, gave everything a crack and would give herself her service to others without a second thought. Like Tania, these three are tough competitors, committed trainers, team people, can hold their own in all situations and are having fun while chasing the dream. recall either myself or Tania doing something similar. So the shared experience and the opportunity to walk beside the girls to "awhi" them or "Auntie" them when they need it works well. Tania was someone who had a constant smile, gave everything a crack and would give herself her service to others without a second thought. Like Tania, these three are tough competitors, committed trainers, team people, can hold their own in all situations and are having fun while chasing the dream.
