Tamati plans local politics run
Howie Tamati’s definition of retirement does not include sitting with his feet up.
After 25 years in the top job at Sport Taranaki he plans to retire in June. Then he will stand for the New Plymouth District Council.
Retirement is easy to say, but it’s not the end of his life, he said.
‘‘It’s just another phase of your life, and I’m very excited about that.’’
Tamati was a councillor for five terms, but didn’t seek reelection in 2016 when he stood for the Ma¯ori Party in the Te Tai Haua¯uru electorate at the 2017 general election.
His ‘sojourn’ into national politics is over, he said.
‘‘I’m more focused on the community. That’s where my life has always been focused really.
‘‘I really enjoyed my time in the New Plymouth District Council. And from the perspective voice of Ma¯ ori and also the sporting community I think it was valued.’’
He hasn’t thought about standing for mayor, he said laughing.
Another thing on his to-do-list is become more fluent in te reo Ma¯ ori.
‘‘I do want to lift my proficiency in te reo. That is part and parcel in my world as well. It’s always been important to me, but now I’ll have the time.’’
Tamati will continue in a governance role at Te Kotahitanga o Te A¯ tiawa and with the arrival of a new grandchild may find himself on babysitting duty, he said.
He is proud to leave Sport Taranaki knowing it is widely recognised as a leading regional sport and recreation organisation.
‘‘Over the past 25 years, I was fortunate to have great support from my board and the Taranaki community to try things, innovate and realise opportunities.
‘‘I’m really excited about finishing in a good space with Sport Taranaki. I’ve appreciated everything they’ve done for me. I know they’ll be in good hands.’’
Former New Plymouth mayor David Lean chaired Sport Taranaki for 20 years with Tamati as the chief executive.
‘‘We inherited each other when he was appointed to the position by the then Hillary Commission. At the time Sport Taranaki was $30,000 in debt and had no permanent home.
‘‘Now it’s in its own building worth $2 million and is debt free.’’
Sport Taranaki chairman Gordon Brown said Tamati had transformed the organisation in the last quarter of a century.
‘‘It was no secret that Sport Taranaki was having difficulties when Howie took over and he can take much of the credit for transforming it into one of the top regional sports trusts in the country.
‘‘Howie’s legacy is secure and you only need to look at the splendid building it owns at Yarrow Stadium for confirmation of that.’’
An extensive search for a replacement for Tamati would start soon, Brown said. ‘‘We appreciate the length of notice Howie has given, which gives us the time to appoint a new chief executive to lead Sport Taranaki into an exciting new era.’’