Te Ohu Ikaroa Touch

Gerrad van Ooyen

My name is Gerrad van Ooyen. I am currently serving on the board for Wellington Touch as Deputy Chair.

I have been involved with Touch mainly as a parent supporting my kids and more recently as a board member.

I have been involved in governance role for a number of years with other sporting codes and charitable trusts. I am passionate about supporting our kids to participate in sports and removing barriers so they can grow and develop

Brian Hopkinson

My journey in touch began with my children playing the sport, which ignited a passion that led to being involved with the Manawatū Touch Committee for 14 years. Serving as Chair for 4 years and Treasurer for 2 years. I have also been a representative team and tour manager during this time as well.

I left the Chairperson position to take up the Te Ohu Ikaroa Regional Development Manager role so that I could continue to be involved in my passion and am looking forward to seeing the direction that the combination of the Te Ohu Ikaroa provinces develop together under the board.

Graeme Ewart

I have been involved in Touch from 1991, initially as a player with a few provincial; representative games up until around 2004/2025. After a 15-year hiatus I returned in 2020 to be part of a Masters campaign and have play in every national tournament since. In 2024, I will be representing NZ at the World Cup, Nottingham in the 50's grade. This year i have started to give back at a governance level as part of the Touch HB and Te Ohu Ikaroa Regional Boards. I want to ensure that every person that wants to can have the opportunity to participate in the game of Touch

Tēnā koutou e te whānau,

Ko Potene Paewai ahau.

Born in Rotorua I have lived most of my life in Feilding, Manawatū. I am excited to be a part of Te Ohu Ikaroa and I’m excited to see what we can achieve. Although I played a majority of my touch in the last century my main involvement in touch over the past 15 years has been in coaching. I have three sons who all play touch and it is through their involvement in playing that I started coaching. Currently, I run the Pure Styles Touch Club, the MANUKURA touch programme and coach the Manawatū Open Men’s team. My main motivation for coaching is to provide opportunities for participation and to see players progress through the touch pathways. My main focus for Te Ohu Ikaroa is to grow and strengthen touch on and off the field within our contingent of provinces.

After 30 years in the Stock & Station Business John spent the balance of his working life in the Sporting industry. A strong background in rugby administration, including Club and Sub Union Chairmanships, led to him forming a Touch Module at his Rangiora Rugby Club.

From there John was appointed as Provincial Touch Manager for Canterbury in 1997. In 2001 he accepted a volunteer position as Tour Manager for Touch NZ. Shortly after this he was seconded to Touch NZ to progress the sport throughout the South Island as well as be responsible for all the NZ Senior Touch Teams. He managed 2 World Cup Campaigns (Japan and South Africa) as well as 2 Trans Tasman Series, the All Nations Tournament in Christchurch and a development Tour to Queensland.

After completing his contract with Touch NZ he went back to Touch Canterbury for a brief period to facilitate the repayment of a substantial debt that had been incurred.

John is a Life member of Touch Canterbury where he is still a Board Member and the President.

He was elected President of Touch NZ in 2009, a position he held until 2018.

Married to Carole for 57 years they have 2 married children and 5 grandchildren.

Te Ohu Ikaroa Touch Board

Chairperson

Vice Chairperson

Secretary/Treasurer

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director