Trustees

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  Sir John Walker

  KNZM CBE Founding Chairman

  
  Sir John Walker is a champion New Zealander and one of Manukau's favourite sporting icons.
  
  During a long and distinguished career, matched by few others, he made his international debut in 1973. He showed extraordinary durability for a runner and created a staggering list of achievements. Chief among them, he -
  
  • Became the first athlete to break 3m 50s for the mile in 1975 at Gothenburg, Sweden with a time of 3m 49.4secs. That record was to stand for almost four years before being beaten by Sebastian Coe in July 1979.
  • Won the 1976 Olympic gold medal over 1500m at Montreal in a compelling performance.
  • Became the first person to ever run 100 sub-four minute miles -achieving that mark a staggering 135 times.
  • Set the world record over 2000m at Oslo in 1976 and his time of 4m 51.4s was to stand for almost a decade
  • Won 14 NZ Track and Field titles over 800m and 1500m
  • Won the Halberg Award twice, in 1975 and ‘76 and was also voted the 'Sportsman of the Decade' for the 1970s.
  • Competed at two Olympics (1976 and 1984) and four Commonwealth Games (1974, 1984, 1986 and 1990) where he collected one Olympic gold medal and two Commonwealth silver and one Commonwealth bronze medals.
  
  Born in Papakura, John and his wife Helen have long made Manukau their home. A councillor for Manurewa/Papakura in the new Auckland Council, he is concerned about the health and welfare of Manukau’s young people.

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  Mike Sage

  Deputy Chairman

  
  Mike Sage is a commercial lawyer and avid sportsman. He is a partner in Simpson Grierson, specialising in commercial/corporate law.
  
  Mike lives on a lifestyle block in Whitford. He is married with three teenage children who are all heavily involved in school and club sport in the Manukau area (primarily hockey, equestrian sports, cricket and touch rugby).
  
  Mike is a former age group and senior representative hockey player, and has coached hockey for 20 years. He has competed in triathlons for more than 20 years, mainly at the Ironman distance, and in recent years has been concentrating on multi-sport events, including the Coast to Coast race.
  
  Mike has coached hundreds of Manukau City kids, from diverse backgrounds, through the Howick-Pakuranga and Southern Districts Hockey Club. He is a firm believer in the power of sport, to teach kids social skills, teamwork and self-confidence. We need to champion, relentlessly, the opportunities and encouragement for kids to get into (and to stay in) sport.

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  Arthur Anae

  Arthur Anae migrated to NZ as a 5 year old in 1951 with his parents and siblings.
  
  He is of Polynesian (Samoan), English and Asian (Chinese) descent.
  
  Arthur has been a self-made businessman for over 40 years. He is a former Member of Parliament, serving six years as a National List MP. Currently he is Councillor for the Manukau Ward for the new Auckland Council, an elected member of the Counties-Manukau District Health Board and a member of the Phobic Trust.
  
  Arthur has served on numerous business, community, government and church boards and committees for over 30 years.
  
  Arthur is passionate about the city’s young multicultural, multitalented population.
  

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  Paula Daye

  RGON, Post Grad Dip Business Studies, FNZIM
  
  Paula has more than 30 years experience in the Health and Disability Sector.
  
  Her training as a nurse in London led to a career in public health working in Scotland and Devon before migrating to New Zealand in 1973. From her nursing background and having gained a qualification in business studies, through Massey University, Paula’s experience broadened into general management in the health sector, where she held several senior management positions.
  
  Paula has successfully built strategic alliances, promoting positive outcomes for her patients while managing large numbers of staff and multimillion dollar budgets. As CEO of Coast Health Care Ltd. and the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, Paula was responsible for delivering quality health and disability services during a period of political and social change.
  
  Her passion for the health and disability sector was further inspired through attending ‘Strategic Perspectives in Non-profit Management’ at Harvard University.
  
  She has served on a number of boards including, Crown Public Health, Deputy Chair Vision Education Agency, World Blind Union Executive, Chair Women’s Committee Asia Pacific and the Family Services National Advisory Committee.
  
  Since leaving the RNZFB she has continued to direct her passion for the health and disability sector through a variety of roles including, Professional Coach and Mentor, Board Director Kidney Health NZ, Department of Internal Affairs Listening and Assistance Service, Trustee Appointer Mobility Dogs Trust and service development and project management for the Auckland Kidney Society.

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  Luke Gagamoe

  New Zealand-born, Luke Gagamoe is of Samoan descent and was raised in central and west Auckland. Luke is a keen sportsman and has recently turned his attention to multi–sports events and coaching, and is a member of the Auckland Rugby League board under the new NZRL structure.
  
  An accountant by profession, Luke has passion for working with young people and is one of the leaders of the 360 Teen programme in Manukau. The programme equips teenagers with Life skills through sporting activities (touch, basketball and boxing), camps, community-based activities, life sessions and coaching.
  
  He is also a musician and has played in a covers band for over five years. Luke currently leads a commercial and finance role with Fonterra, having previously worked with Fletcher Forests, Air New Zealand and Carter Holt Harvey.
  

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  Sir Noel Robinson

  KNZM
  
  Former chairman and managing director of Robinson Industries, Noel Robinson was made a Knight of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and the community.
  
  Since selling the business in 1999 he has been actively involved with the Counties Manukau community. He is chairman of the Counties Manukau Pacific Trust, which developed the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre. He is Chairman of the Estate of Sir Woolf Fisher and Chairman of Highbrook Developments Limited.
  
  

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  Gary Troup

  A resident of Papatoetoe for over 45 years, Gary is self-employed in event management and sports marketing and is a former New Zealand test cricketer. He was Deputy Mayor of Manukau City Council before the amalgamation to the Auckland Council and now serves as a director on the Regional Facilities Auckland board.
  
  Gary is a trustee of Camp Quality NZ, "for children living with cancer", a former trustee of Counties Manukau Sports Foundation, and of Manukau Holiday Camps Trust. He is the President and Life Member of the Papatoetoe Cricket Club, and Vice President and Honorary Member of the Auckland Cricket Association.
  
  Gary is involved with many local community groups and clubs as is the co-founder of the Papatoetoe Multisport facility.
  

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  Richard Walker

  Richard Walker, BiS (MIT), was born and raised in Manukau City. He has a passion for sport and technology. Richard is currently a director of a software solutions company in Newmarket, Auckland. When he is not involved in work-related activities Richard enjoys keeping fit and active. His hobbies include fishing and wakeboarding.
  
  Richard shares John’s vision of encouraging youth to engage in sport and recreation as a positive channel for learning and development.