NZRL board draws from zones
Kiwis legend Tawera Nikau and Canterbury RL chairman Reon Edwards are one step away from securing spots on the New
Zealand Rugby League board of directors next month.
The pair have been nominated by an independent appointments panel to fill two elected director vacancies on the board,
after five short-listed candidates were interviewed this week.
Nikau (Kiwi #614) needs little introduction to the NZ league community, having played 19 tests between 1989-97 and
captained NZ Maori at the 2000 World Cup.
He was inducted as an NZRL Legend of League in 2008, and currently serves as a selector for the world #1 NZ Kiwis and a
board director for NZRL Upper Central Zone.
Edwards is a former Canterbury Maori and junior representative, who has served three years as Canterbury chair and six
years on the NZRL Southern Zone board. His business experience includes a range of finance, sales, marketing,
development and governance positions.
NZRL has notified its zones of the two successful candidates and their confirmation will be the subject of a vote at its
annual meeting on June 29.
“Last year, the zones told us they felt the board did not have enough grassroots football knowledge,” says NZRL chairman
Garry Fissenden, a member of the four-person panel.
“We have listened and when the board briefed the appointments panel, we put a greater emphasis on this to complement our
existing board members.”
At the same time it nominated Nikau and Edwards for the elected positions, the panel also confirmed current board member
Jen Rolfe for another term as independent director.
Rolfe is managing partner in Rainger & Rolfe creative agency, with specialist expertise in driving consumer engagement and brand activation.
ENDS