Waikato Hockey

Association

07 838 0485

WHA Board

Ethan Hohneck

WHA Board Chairperson

Portfolios: Cultural, Senior Division, Health & Safety

Robyn Polley

President WHA

Portfolios: Cultural, Community, Umpires

Jenny Barkle

WHA Board Member

Heather Junge

WHA Board Member
(WHCT Representative)

Portfolios: Hockey Finance & Fundraising

Jamie Guthrie (nee Millar)

WHA Board Member​

Portfolios: WHA Staff, Waikato Hockey Charitable Trust

Bevan Sam

WHA Board Member​

Portfolios: Health & Safety, High Performance Network, Other Related Sports

Ash Burkhart

WHA Board Member​

Portfolios: Community, Hamilton City Council, Representative Hockey

WHA Board Member Portfolios

Why do WHA Board Members have Portfolios?

Our new 2022 WHA Board have decided to immerse themselves in Waikato Hockey by choosing a “Portfolio“.  The aim is for a Board Member to gather as much information as possible within their “Portfolio” and then report that information back to the other WHA Board Members.

This in-turn will keep all WHA Board Members well informed on the goings-on and ins and outs of all things Waikato Hockey.

It also doesn’t mean that we are getting so involved where we are managing, making decisions, or effecting anyones job.   We are simply information gathering where we can.

How will you gather information?

A number of ways in which a WHA Board Member may gather information relevant to their Portfolio might be:

  1. Ask to attend meetings where possible.
  2. Communicate with relevant subject matter experts relating to their Portfolio.
  3. Research their Portfolio.

What will the outcomes be?

  1. A more informed WHA Board.
  2. Better decisions based on more information.
  3. Interaction with relevant groups and individuals.

Past WHA Presidents

Truman Wee

2009 - 2021

Past WHA Board Chairperson

Truman Wee

2016 - 2021

Owen Embling

2010 - 2015

Seddon Polglase

2008 - 2009

Peter Cawkwell

2002 - 2007

Gladys O'Brien

1997 - 2001

Bridget Daldy

1993 - 1996

Des Meads

1988 - 1992

Ethan Hohneck

WHA Board Chairperson

I grew up in Rotorua before moving away as an 18 year old to University in Hamilton.  I have lived in many towns, cities, and countries and played hockey in most of them.  Rotorua, Hamilton, Tokoroa, Auckland, London, Perth, Whakatane, and now back in Hamilton.

My family moved to Hamilton from Auckland in 2015 to start a new business in the Waikato.  I have two lovely daughters who keep both myself and my partner very busy.  Both children are at school now and both love sport.

I enjoy giving back to the sport of hockey as hockey has given me a lot over the years.

Appointment 2020

I was first appointed to the WHA Board in 2020 mid season by Truman Wee along with Craig (Hemi) Webber.  2020 was a tough time for the world, due to COVID, so being on the WHA Board was challenging during 2020 and 2021.

Voted On 2022

During the 2022 AGM I was successfully voted on to the board and gracefully accepted the role as  Board Member.

Chairperson

In August 2022 I was voted by the other WHA Board Members to become the Chairperson of the WHA Board once that seat was vacated by Craig (Hemi) Webber.

Occupation: Business Owner, IT Consultant

Qualifications: BSocSci (Hons) Geography, Maori Studies, Advanced GIS

Education: Rotorua Boys High, University of Waikato

Rotorua Boys High School First XI 1990 – 1993
Bay of Plenty U18 & U21 1992 – 1993
Waikato University Hockey Club Premier Dev 1995-1996
Te Awamutu Hockey Club Premier Dev 1997 – 1998
Waikato-Maniapoto Mens Team 1998 – Present (NZ Maori Hockey Champions 1st Equal 2012)
Fraser Tech Hockey Club Premier Mens 1999
New Zealand Maori Senior Mens 1999 – 2001 (Defeated Singapore 3 – 0 in 2000)
Roskill Eden Hockey Club Premier Mens 2000 – 2004 (Auckland Champions 2004)
Auckland Mens Hockey 2004
University of Western Australia Premier Dev 2006-2008 (WA Champions 2008)
Roskill Eden Hockey Club Premier Dev 2010 – 2012
Suburbs Hockey Club Pastits 2019 – Present
Waikato Masters 35s, 40s, 45s 2019 – Present

Waikato Hockey Association Board

Waikato-Maniapoto Maori Hockey Kaunihera Executive

NZ Maori Hockey Kaunihera Executive

NZ Heritage Hockey Board Executive

I would like to see more cultures playing hockey in New Zealand, and especially in the Waikato.

Seeing Waikato Hockey grow and compete at high levels against other regions.

I would like to play hockey for as long as my body will let me. 

I enjoy the social aspects of Club and Masters Hockey.

Robyn Polley

President WHA

Originally from Alexandra and then Dunedin, Hamilton has been my home now for 30 odd years. I am married to a Physical Education teacher and we have three wonderful children,  who are all entrenched in sport.

Since October 2014 I have worked at Sport Waikato in the Under 5 team as the Under 5 Fundamentals Skills Advisor.  I feel honoured at being part of a programme that makes such a difference to young children’s lives.

I have been on the WHA Board for 7 years now.  I was a WHA Board Member for 2 terms of 3 years each and am now the elected President of WHA

  • President Waikato Hockey 2022-current
  • Board Member of Waikato Hockey Assn 2014 – current
  • Waikato Hockey 20 Year Service Award

Professional Learning Partner, Sport Waikato                                  Oct 2015 – Current

  • Acting Team Leader (12 months) 2019/2020 – Covid and workplace Transformational Change – instigated plans and procedures to enable staff to feel valued and relevant through difficult times
  • Developed and implemented Sport Waikato’s Under 5 (U5) Fundamental Movement Strategic Plan
  • Part of Sport NZ Physical Literacy Advisory committee – Development of Physical Literacy Approach document 2015 – 2019
  • Health Safety – Review and development of policies and procedures
  • Master of Science: Sport & Exercise Science, WINTEC 2018
  • Post Graduate Diploma: Sport & Exercise Science,WINTEC
  • Bachelor of Education: Primary Teaching, Massey University
  • Open Polytechnic: Teacher Education Refresher – 2021
  • National Certificate in Business: First Line Management Level 4
  • National Certificate in Sport: Coaching Level 4
  • National Certificate in Sport: Administration Level 3
  • Science & Wellbeing Certificate, Yale University 2020
  • Health & Safety Representative: US 29315 accreditation – current

1987-2012   Waikato Women’s, Under 21 & Under 18 (Player and Coach)

Midlands Hockey U21 (Ass Coach)

1987-2012   Fraser Tech Hockey Senior Premier Women’s Team (Player and Coach)

1987- 1995  Fraser High School Snr/Jnr Hockey Team (Coach)

Advisory & Governance Roles

  • President Waikato Volleyball Assn – 2015-current
  • Board Member Waikato Regional Volleyball Assn – 2012- 2015
  • Board Member Waikato Hockey Assn 2014 – current
  • Board of Trustee Vardon Primary School 2007 – 2010
  • President Hamilton Volleyball Club 2013 – 2017
  • Advisory Coaching Panel Volleyball New Zealand 2010
  • Advisory Panel Sport NZ– Physical Literacy in Education Sector
  • Chairperson- Jamieson Kindergarten 2002-2003
  • Chairperson- Forest Lake Playcentre 1993-1996
  • Councillor Worker Youth Line (Suicide & Abuse) and Youth aid 1983 -1991

Continue to see people develop a life-long love for the game of hockey.

Hockey continuing to grow as an inclusive sport.

Jamie Guthrie

Board Member

From Reporoa, where I grew up on farm and attended a school of less than 450 students. Reporoa College, was where I first started to play hockey, late in year 11.

Moving to Hamilton in 2014, I jumped into the Club hockey scene to make friends, as I was a second-year university student who did not know anyone. Since then, I have been heavily involved from many ends on the club/senior hockey level.

Hamilton is now my home and so is the turf, it is also where I met my now husband. I am very grateful to be a part of this buzzing community.

  • Voted On 2022 AGM and youngest female to sit on the board.

Occupation:
Senior Research Associate for a NZ family owned seed company 2018- Current

Qualifications:
BSc Earth and Environmental 2016
MSc Res (Hons) 2018
Money Management Certificate 2020

Education:
Reporoa College
University of Waikato and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

2010-2012 Reporoa College

2014-Current University of Waikato Hickey Club (Player, Coach, Club Captain, President)

President of the University of Waikato Hockey Club Inc 2019-Current

Senior Division Chairperson 2022

To help create an environment where players at high levels feel that they do not need to leave the region to get ‘better’ sport. This behaviour starts at the grassroots.

Much like others on the board I want to see this sport grow across all aspects, age groups, genders, cultures and across NZ.

Bevan Sam

Board Member

I am a born and bred Hamiltonian, I have been playing hockey since I was 6 years old and enjoyed playing at many different levels and enjoyed coaching at different levels as well.
After spending all my club career at Hamilton Old Boys & Old Girls Hockey Club, I was voted in as Club President and as a result of that, I have started learning more about all levels of hockey where I have been on the committee for Umpires, Junior and Senior Division in the past.
I look forward to promoting a healthy lifestyle and encourage everyone to be active.

  • Voted on 2022

Occupation: Strategic Impact Advisor, Sport Waikato

Education: Hamilton Boys High School and University of Waikato

Player:

2003: HBHS 1st XI
2004: HOB Development Squad (GK)
2005 – 2009: HOB Premier Squad (GK)
2010 – 2012: HOB Development squad (field player)
2013 – current: HOB Northcare Dental Squad (mix of GK and field player)
2019 – current: Waikato Masters 35s squad
Umpire:
2018 – current: Secondary school A & B grade, Club – Reserve grade.

Coaching:
Team: HOB Development squad (plays in MR1 grade)
– 2005 – 2008 (mix of player/coach role and straight Coach role)
– 2010 – 2011

Team: NorthCare Dental HOB (played in a mix of grades)
– 2013– Current (Mix of Player/Coach and straight Coach role)

Team: HOG B squad (plays in WR2 grade)
– 2007 – 2008

Team: Hamilton Boys High School (varies Role)
– 2007 – 2008 – Goalkeeper Coach
– 2018 – Current

Team: U15
– Goalkeeper Coach

Team: U18 – Development squad
– Jnr advisor role (Talent Scout)

Team: St Joseph’s Catholic School – Yr 3 / 4 grade
– Coaching 2018/2019

Team: Fairfield Intermediate School
– Adhoc training for prior to their tournament 2018/2019

Team: Waikato 40s Masters
– 2019 Manager
– 2023 Assistant Coach – Waikato 45s Masters

Waikato Hockey Association Board – 2022-current

I would like to see hockey grow in the Waikato at all levels – this means all aspects of the game, so more coaches, more umpires, more managers and more players.

I hope to continue playing, coaching and umpiring hockey for as long as I can.