The Turbine
Levin rugby volunteer honoured
Long-serving Horowhenua Ka¯ piti rugby volunteer Irene Eruera-taiapa has been recognised for her countless hours devoted to the sport.
Eruera-taiapa, of Levin Wanderers Rugby Club, won the Charles Monro volunteer-of-the-year gong at the New Zealand Rugby awards in Auckland on Thursday night.
She is a Wanderers stalwart, has volunteered for the Horowhenua Ka¯ piti union and is involved with the Horowhenua Ka¯ piti Ma¯ ori rugby board.
She is also the union’s respect and responsibility and child protection adviser.
On top of that, Eruera-taiapa has also been the Horowhenua Ka¯ piti development team manager and helped organise the Tetini-a-maui tournament in Horowhenua Ka¯ piti this year.
The other finalists were Taranaki’s Steve Webling and Kim Wheeler, of King Country.
Eruera-taiapa became involved with Wanderers about 22 years ago when her sons started playing rugby.
She’s on the club’s committee and has has been a team manager for years, starting in the junior grades and following her sons through to senior rugby.
Eruera-taiapa flew to Perth the day after the awards to spend Christmas with family, but Wanderers chairwoman Nina Hori Te Pa said the award win was huge.
‘‘There were quite a few of us in Levin jumping around in our living rooms,’’ Hori Te Pa said.
Eruera-taiapa follows another recent Horowhenua Ka¯ piti winner in Dean File, of the Shannon Rugby Club, who won the award four years ago.
‘‘It just goes to show with the [Horowhenua Ka¯ piti] rep team doing so well, our volunteers are being recognised for their hard work,’’ Hori Te Pa said.
‘‘There’s definitely something in the water.’’
Wanderers weren’t able to field a premier team this year, but hope to next season.
Horowhenua Ka¯ piti chief executive Corey Kennett said of Eruera-taiapa’s nomination: ‘‘Irene volunteers for both Levin Wanderers and Horowhenua Ka¯ piti in a vast number of areas, [so] it’s easier to say what she doesn’t do than list everything she does.
‘‘Our game is built off volunteers like Irene, who give their heart and soul to our game.’’