September 2025 Issue No. 25
Koutou ngā matanga nō te ao hākinakina, tēnā koutou,
Welcome to the September 2025 edition of Coaches Kōrero.
Coaches Kōrero was established to create a forumto connect, support and celebrate our Performance Coaching Community in New Zealand.
In this issue we profile rugby league coach Charlotte Scanlan and surf lifesaving coach Steve Kent.
Our legal partners Tavendale have provided an article on contract negotiations, specifically what are key considerations, you as a coach should make when going through a contracting process.
On the membership front, we continue to grow our membership. We now have 85 members.
A couple of weeks ago, we had our first member webinar, where Black Sticks Men’s Hockey Coaches – Greg Nicol & Shea Mcaleese shared their insights and learnings over the last couple of years post the Paris Olympics. It was great to hear from Greg and Shea!
On Thursday, September 18th, we have myself (Head Coach of the Park & Pipe programme at Snowsports New Zealand) and my good friend and colleague Sean Thompson (Lead Coach of reigning Olympic Snowboard Slopestyle gold medallist and world #1 Zoi Sadowski-Synnott), giving insight into our Snowsports programme and the buildup to the Milan 2026 Winter Olympics next year.
As you can see we are endeavoring to create more value to our members. If you are not a member we would love to hear from you.
To join, please click on the attached link and complete the membership form – https://te-korowai.org.nz/membership/#gform_wrapper_1
If you would like more information about Te Korowai or support services you can contact Andrew Gaze on [email protected] or 021 443 523
Ngā mihi,
Tom Willmott
Chair
Charlotte Scanlan
Charlotte Scanlan’s love for rugby league spans from the highest level all the way down to the kids running around at their local park.
A former Kiwi Fern, Scanlan now works as a Community Manager at the Warriors Community Foundation, sharing the benefits the sport can bring to many across the motu.
It’s something that’s helped her with her coaching abilities too, coaching both locally and internationally.
“When I’m out in the community, it will always ground you into why you should play sport, and why it is such a powerful vehicle for social change,” Scanlan says.
“In just the way that you get your volunteers to come in, the way that clubs are supporting their rangatahi and tamariki through the sense of community that you get from that, it always helps bring me down to earth.”
Steve Kent
As a former high-performance athlete, Steve Kent knows first hand the sacrifices that need to be made if you want to reach the top of your chosen sport, or, as in his case, sports.
With his elite competition days behind him, it’s now about giving back for Kent, who is the Black Fins campaign lead as they head towards the 2026 Lifesaving World Championships in Morocco.
It’s a role he was first asked to take on in 2023, just a year after he competed in his final World Life Saving Championships as an athlete in Riccione, Italy, and he admits it wasn’t a straightforward decision.
“I had some reservations because I’d be assisting athletes that I’d just been on a team with but I felt I had enough knowledge and passion to give it a go, and take it as a big learning opportunity,” Kent says.
From Sidelines to Signatures: Contract Negotiation for Coaches
In the world of professional sport, the spotlight often shines brightest on athletes, but behind every successful team stands a coach whose leadership and strategy ultimately shape the athlete, the team and the game. Yet, for all the talk of tactics and training, one of the most decisive factors in a coach’s career often takes place off the field: the negotiation of their coaching contract.
Coaching contracts are far more than a simple agreement about salary. They govern your authority, security, career opportunities, your livelihood. In an industry where coaches can move from celebrated leaders to out of a job overnight, the terms of a contract can mean the difference between stability and vulnerability.
The month that was… August 2025
SWIMMING – World Aquatics Championships. Singapore.
- Mitch Nairn coached Lewis Clareburt to 5th in the 200m IM (1:57.06 – NZ record), 10th in the 400m IM (4:13.89) and 10th in the 200m Butterfly (1:55.24 – PB).
- Graham Hill coached Erika Fairweather to 6th in the 200m Freestyle (1:55.61) and 7th in the 800m Freestyle (8:20.79).
- Lars Humer coached Caitlin Deans to 10th in the 800m Freestyle (8:28.72 – PB).
Athletics – Vault Manchester Series. Manchester, U.K.
- Scott Simpson coached Imogen Ayris to 1st in the Pole Vault.
Athletics – International Hochsprung Meeting. Heilbronn, Germany
- James Sandilands coached Hamish Kerr to 2nd in the High Jump.
Athletics – World Athletics Diamond League. Silesia, Poland
- James Sandilands coached Hamish Kerr to 1st in the High Jump.
- Hayden Hall coached Tom Walsh to 4th in the Shot Put.
Athletics – István Gyulai Memorial. Budapest, Hungary
- Hayden Hall coached Tom Walsh to 2nd in the Shot Put.
- Scott Simpson coached Olivia McTaggart to 2nd & Imogen Ayris to 6th in the Pole Vault
Athletics – Citius Meeting. Bern, Switzerland
- James Mortimer coached Zoe Hobbs to 1st in the 100m.
Athletics – Sestriere Meeting. Sestriere, Italy
- James Mortimer coached Zoe Hobbs to 1st in the 100m
- Angus Ross coached Tiaan Whelpton to 1st in the 100m
CANOE RACING – 2025 ICF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. MILAN, ITALY
- Jernej Regent coached Aimee Fisher to 4th in the K1 500 & 3rd in K1 1000m
- Gordon Walker coached Lisa Carrington & Tara Vaughan to 4th in the K2 500 & Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin, Tara Vaughan & Lucy Matehaere to 4th in the K4 500
- Steven Drabble coached Scott Martlew to 4 th in the KL2 200.
- Gavin Elmiger coached Finn Murphy to 9 th KL3 200
WAKA AMA NZ – 2025 ICF PARACANOE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. MILAN, ITALY
- Myka Nuku coached Peter Cowan to 4th in the VL3 200m A Final.
YACHTING NZ – 2025 ILCA 7 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – MARSTRAND, SWEDEN
- Mark Howard coached George Gautrey to 2nd
ATHLETICS – WORLD ATHLETICS DIAMOND LEAGUE. BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- James Sandilands coached Hamish Kerr to 4th in the High Jump.
- Scott Simpson coached Imogen Ayris to 4th in the Pole Vault.
ATHLETICS – WORLD ATHLETICS DIAMOND LEAGUE. LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND
- Scott Simpson coached Olivia McTaggart to 2nd in the Pole Vault
- Hayden Hall coached Tom Walsh to 4th in the Shot Put.
ATHLETICS – INTERNATIONAL STABHOCHSPRUNGMEETING. BECKUM, GERMANY
- Scott Simpson coached Imogen Ayris – 2nd & Olivia McTaggart to 3rd in the Pole Vault
