‘Rewarding to see rangatahi achieve’
Dad happily dedicates his time to helping others through sport
Imet an amazing person while travelling home from Auckland. My children and I were sitting at the reception of our Naumi Hotel at the Auckland Airport, waiting for our bus to pick us up.
We noticed a group of around 40 men wearing black tops with “Fit for Life” on them.
We wondered what team this was as they looked quite official and quite gratified in their uniforms. While in reception they gathered together for a photo.
I got up and asked if I could take a photo too. Next minute phones were being passed to me from group members to take photos from their phones. Being nosy, I asked one of them what this group was.
He said they were holding a national conference for community coaches from around the country and the event was run by Touch NZ.
Immediately I asked if anyone was there from Hawke’s Bay and I was introduced to a familiar face — Hape Gill.
A familiar face, because I have seen Hape in our Flaxmere community, where I reside, for the past 20-plus years in my own involvement in the community. I had never spoken to Hape, but I had seen him around over the years.
I later recognised him as a former worker of Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga.
I introduced myself and said I would love to do a story on him when he returned home.
On arriving home from Auckland, I found out Hape was one of three winning nominations for the Unison’s Matariki Community Stars Competition.
I was impressed to read excerpts from his nomination, submitted by Michael Gilmour.
It read: “Hape has given back to the community through social work and being a volunteer rugby referee and touch rugby coach. He has been involved with Touch Hawke’s Bay for many years in various roles — chairperson, provincial coaching director and provincial coach — coaching the Junior Academy, U14 Girls, U16 Girls and Open Mix teams. Hape’s also given back to the Hawke’s Bay rugby community for many years through refereeing, being involved with the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Referees Association in 1987-1993 and then returning to refereeing in 2015.”
Hape works for Kāinga Ora supporting many wha¯nau into emergency housing or into their own properties and in his previous role for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga he was involved in helping at-risk youth reengage back into school or work, teaching them life skills and mentoring.
Hape used to work for Purena Koa Rehua Youth Services based at The Way Church where he grew a desire to work with and support rangatahi.
Touch rugby is definitely a favourite of his. He says: “I just love the game and helping coach, ref, and run things for the community is rewarding ... and tiring with the lack of moe/sleep, but very rewarding to see rangatahi achieve.”
Hape has shared his passion to support the community with his eldest daughter Taneshia, who is currently the manager of the Flaxmere Community Centre. She also possess an inner strength that is portrayed through her work in the community.
“My hero is my wife Poko,” says Hape.
“I couldn’t do what I’ve done or what I do, without her being there in the trenches with me along with my kids allowing me to koha my time to others.”
Poko is also a lover of sports which makes it a lot easier.
“She drives me to be my best, too. Poko and Iwork together and welove helping people to see a better version of themselves.
“We help through coaching sport and/or through mahi, to inspire change and we say it’s okay to fail forward.”
He acknowledges the other heroes he has come across. People he’s walked along side who have asked for help in their darkest or lowest times.
“It’s not easy but I’ve been privileged with their stories and helping them to rediscover their purpose in life.”
Hape believes our rangatahi can aspire to be anything they want to be. The world is their paua.
Outside of sports, Hape thrives on his time with his adult children, his moko, and being around the extended wha¯nau. Carving and graf art, reading a good autobiography and building are favourite pastimes.
One of Hape’s goals is to visit Israel and Anfield, home of the Liverpool Football Club.
Hape’s favourite kai is Korean kai — prawns, handmade noodle soup with chicken dumplings.