“Bailey is engaging, a good communicator and brings to the table a unique set of skills,” Impey said.
“He represents new technologies — digital technology, for instance — having produced the Amazon series on the All Blacks.
“Cushla is the chief executive of the union with the greatest percentage of Maori participation — 90 percent — and with East Coast being New Zealand's smallest union, she's familiar with the challenges faced by Heartland provinces.
“We value the female perspective highly these days: she'll be one of three women on the NZMRB chaired by former Black Ferns captain Farah Palmer.”
Tangaere-Manuel follows former Poverty Bay deputy chairman Albie Gibson and the Coast's Val Morrison on to the Maori Rugby Board: she regards both men as mentors, and is grateful for their support.
“I'll never forget Val standing up at our first annual general meeting after I'd been made chief executive and saying he was excited at my appointment,” she said.
“He and Albie encouraged my passion for Maori rugby.
“That type of support helped me to become the treasurer of Te-Tini-a-Maui regional committee — a position I've held for the past three years — but my whanau (family) have been awesome as well, especially my father-in-law (‘the man on the blue horse'), NPEC life member and former president John Manuel. I was proud to tell him and my entire family the news when I was appointed. I even got a congratulatory call from Sir Michael Jones, who visited the Coast last season.
“When I moved home, I was happy just to be a freelance broadcaster. I had no idea that soon I'd have the privilege of managing one of Ngati Porou's most iconic brands.”
Bailey Mackey was nominated for the New Zealand Rugby (NZR) board by the NPEC board. That nomination was seconded by the Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union (PBRFU).
“I've always wanted to be involved in the development and growth of the game, but the hardest part of this process has been having to give up the presidency of Ngati Porou East Coast after one and a half years — I've worked with fantastic, smart, dedicated people,” said Mackey, the first representative from NPEC to serve on the NZR board and the first from a Heartland union to serve since King Country's Ivan Haines in 2015.
PBRFU chairman Hayden Swann said: “It was a privilege for us to second NPEC's nomination of Bailey Mackey to the NZR board. Our Tairawhiti unions have a close working relationship and it's important the Heartland provinces have a strong voice at the top table.
“The PBRFU knows that Bailey will advocate for Heartland unions and bring innovative thinking to NZR, while Cushla has proved herself to be a leader in rugby administration with a good understanding of Maori rugby aspirations and goals. We look forward to the value she'll add to the Maori board and also we acknowledge the dedication and contribution of Val Morrison and Albie Gibson to the NZMRB over many years.”
Mackey relishes the task ahead.
“Its an important time for rugby. Over the Christmas-New Year break, I started talking to Cushla and NPEC chairman Campbell Dewes about putting myself forward because the game's a unifying force. I'm incredibly humbled by this, and focused, because these are tough times for rugby and the country. It's a big thing to think that New Zealand rugby has had a board for 128 years, and now I'm on it.
“I want rugby to be as relevant for my kids as it was for me, to ensure that it remains a community development tool, and to improve its commercial potential.”
