Wes Smith
Wellington & Tasman

Wes brings a peaceful strength in his approach to leading the Wellington/Tasman area. After living in Nelson for many years, Wes and the family moved to Wellington and have settled at Otaki Beach - what a dream!

Wes is a huge football fan, and in his words “I am a HUGE fan of Newcastle United…I LOVE them” - so his chaplaincy placement with the Wellington Saints basketball team is a new lane for him!

When he’s not shaping SCNZ in his area, you’ll find Wes out in the ocean catching waves and riding tubes atop a surfboard.

He uri o Ngāi Tamaterangi, nō Wairoa ahau, ko Rangiāhua marae te poho o Tamaterangi. 

As a Chartered Accountant with a BA in Management Studies Rangiaruaru has worked in government, commercial, and not-for-profit entities. He is currently Acting Financial Controller of Kāhui Tū Kaha a $100m Social Housing & Health NFP.  Previously he was Operations, Property and Finance Director of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand, led the National office and was part of a team of four directors who reported to the Baptist National Leader. Rangiaruaru is currently Board member on National Council of the Baptist Union NZ, and two other boards including as Trustee of his marae Rangiāhua.

He is an ex-Rugby League player and Sports Chaplain to Northcote Tigers Rugby League team. Rangiaruaru is married to Katrina and father of three, these are his happy places. 

“Ehara tāku toa i te toa takitahi he toa takitini – my success is not mine alone but that of the collective. These are the words of my tīpuna Paterangi and I seek to weave a depth of understanding of te Ao Māori with our faith to pursue His will for my life and Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand.” Ko Te Rangiaruaru Hema aha

Rebecca lives in Invercargill, Southland having moved there almost 15 years ago to pursue opportunities for growing and developing farming businesses and family life. Her professional background is in strategy and policy development, resource management and advising governance bodies, and spans almost 30 years.   

She currently works for Southern Ngāi Tahu Rūnanga as a Principal Advisor on Resource Management and Local government matters. Rebecca has held many leadership positions professionally and within community and church organisations. She is always passionate about gathering people to head towards a goal.  An accredited Sports Chaplain, she currently supports her husband in his role as Sports Chaplain to the G-Force performance cycling club in Southland, which also is the current club base for their cyclist son. 

Toni-Maree has been National Director for Mercy Ships New Zealand since 2023. She has extensive experience as a senior executive of Volleyball NZ, Harbour Sport, and Turn Your Life Around Trust and other key roles. Her leadership in high performance sport and leading a National Sports Organisation in particular benefits the SCNZ Board with unique important insights into the running and expectations of NSOs. 

Toni-Maree has a B.A. majoring in History and Māori, a Diploma of Teaching and Post-Grad Diploma in Business Administration (endorsed in Sports Management). As the Board’s newest Trustee, Toni-Maree’s appointment is timely for the continuing growth and development of Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand. 

Married for 30 years and with two adult children, Toni-Maree and her husband live on the North Shore. Her family is passionate about sport and coaching and ensuring young people have positive sports experiences to become lifetime contributors to sport and recreation. 

Tamiaho holds Masters and Postgraduate degrees, and has served 24 years in education, health, research and commerce across Māori and mainstream, including Government Ministry Senior Reference Groups and central Government roles and is currently a Director for Primary Healthcare in Auckland with national scope. He enjoys Tertiary Lecturing in Social Services, Indigenous Arts, and Sport Fitness, and facilitates the largest women’s empowerment programme in Aotearoa with over 2,000 active participants daily; his grandmother and mother instilling in him the importance of the sanctity of Wahine as life bearers and a bastion to be protected.

Since 2009, he has led the NZ Land Wars commemoration across the country. In 2010, he designed the New Zealand School Boards framework Māori Ora Mauri Ora, and Biculturalism frames for NZ Health. Tamiaho was a member of New Zealand Qualifications targeted review evaluation board to streamline 6,000 programmes whilst ensuring Te Tiriti obligations and outcomes. He has worked with an array of organisations across the globe and served the communities and whanau within his kaitiakitanga.  

Married to Maria Katarina, they relish the advancements of their 10 children. Ko Tamiaho ahau, no Tainui, Hauraki, Raukawa, Maniapoto, Ngapuhi, Te Rarawa, Mataatua, Ngati Whakaue, Waewae, Taranaki me Tuwharetoa oku Iwi.