December 09, 2022
New look for NZ Rugby board
The new deputy chair of New Zealand Rugby says there’s a new look around the game’s governing table.
Former East Coast rep Bailey Mackey and Professor Farah Palmer were this week elected joint deputy chairs,
Stewart Mitchell stepped down as chair and was replaced by former Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy.
Mr Mackey says it was about finding the best people for the job.
“We didn’t make the decision based on those things solely – like being a woman or being Maori. But actually we just took a moment to soak it in, and realise things do look a bit different in the House of rugby,” he says.
Mr Mackey says winning the hearts and minds of the next generation is rugby’s major challenge – and innovation will need to be at the forefront of the sport’s future.