Hawke's Bay rugby royal family member steps up

History Maker: Mavis Mullins is the Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union's first female director. Photo/Warren Buckland

Call Mavis Mullins a member of one of Hawke's Bay rugby's royal families and you would be bang on.

"Yes I feel like I belong there," the Dannevirke-based business woman said after she and Gemco financial director Mike Smith were announced as independent directors on the Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union board yesterday.

A granddaughter of former Magpie Lui Paewai who played for the 1924 All Black Invincibles, Mullins is the first female to be appointed to the board in the union's 133-year history.

"Being the first woman has not struck me. I'm just really pleased to be there full stop. I can bring a different window to the position ... one from the boardroom back to the people and one from the people back to the boardroom. It's a window which hasn't been opened before. I've had young mothers give me their concerns ... everybody will bring something a little different," Mullins said.

While governance is her speciality, Mullins has sat on numerous boards including Landcorp, 2degrees Mobile, health boards, Poutama Trust and Taratahi Agricultural Training, she said she was keen to help restore pride in Hawke's Bay rugby.

"When I grew up we ate, drank and slept Hawke's Bay rugby. I want to see those hey days return."

"I noted at the last special general meeting of the union there were no Hawke's Bay Secondary Schools or Hawke's Bay Primary Schools representatives. Is that a trend or just a blip?" Mullins asked.

"Different eyes can see different things."

Although Mullins, an Aotea Sports Club member, will retire by rotation from the board role in 2020 she said she was prepared to remain on the board as long as the people needed her there.

"Whether its two years or 10 years I'm prepared to stay there as long as it takes to achieve what the people want me to achieve."

Smith, 48, was chairman of the Napier Old Boys Marist club for five years after a two-year stint as financial director. For the past two seasons the former NOBM premier player has been a premier team co-manager with the Clive club.

This season will be the chartered accountant's fourth as manager of the Hawke's Bay Saracens team.

"The Saracens role has given me a broader view of Hawke's Bay rugby. It has given me a global view and grown my desire to serve on the board," Smith said.

"While financial expertise is my main focus I want to be able to contribute for the good of Hawke's Bay rugby. I'm prepared to stay on the board as long as it takes and I believe in leaving something in better shape than when I arrived," he added.

Smith's and Mullins appointments follow the recent elections of rugby directors Mark Hamilton and Mark Sowman to the board. This quartet replace Kevin Atkinson, Dan Druzianic, Taine Randell and Simon Tremain who all resigned last month.

Union chairman Brendan Mahony said Mullins and Smith were rugby loving people whose expertise in the fields of finance, governance, marketing and rugby administration would add considerably to the existing board structure.

"The board were delighted with the high calibre of the six applicants for the two vacant independent directors positions and are hopeful that some of them will wish to sit on sub committees on the board. The makeup of these sub-committees will be decided at the next board meeting.

"I am already impressed by the depth of knowledge and selfless approach of the two new elected directors who, like the existing directors, are genuinely committed to the union and of advancing the game at club, provincial and national level," Mahony added.