March 28, 2024
Skipworth passes on baton for IronMāori
IronMāori founder Heather Skipworth is passing on the successful franchise – and also rekindling her political career.
She started the Maori-focused triathlons 15 years ago while working in health promotion in Hawke’s Bay, and the events now draw more than 2000 participants.
The death of her mother at the end of last year, as well as her departure from the Maori Party after she was replaced as candidate for Ikaroa Rawhiti, prompted her to have a look at her future.
She says handing the kaupapa to the Heretaunga Taiwhenua means it will survive her.
“They have huge capacity, huge resource and I do hope there’s some change to the structure. There was myself, my CE and my husband and we have been slogging it out for a number of years by ourselves so it needed extra resources, it needed innovatitive ideas. I felt I had taken it to its pinnacle and I’m quite proud of where we did take it but it just needs new minds, new ideas and fresh energy,” Ms Skipworth says.
She’s putting her name in today for the by-election in the Hasting’s District Council’s Takitimu Māori Ward.