December 2025 Issue No. 28
Koutou ngā matanga nō te ao hākinakina, tēnā koutou,
Welcome to the final edition of Coaches Kōrero in 2025.
Coaches Kōrero was established to create a forum to connect, support and celebrate our Performance Coaching Community in New Zealand.
Over the last 12 months, we have profiled and celebrated 12 male and 12 female coaches. In this issue, we profile Mike Cron, former All Blacks scrum coach, Mike Cron and Triathlon coach Tess Mattern.
This year has been about growing our membership and the supporting advisory offer. In the last 18 months we have 101 coaches join – thank you! We have likewise created a suite of advisory support across wellbeing, legal, financial advisory and tax.
We have a goal of doubling our membership in the next 12 months. If you would like to learn more about our membership offer or our support services, please don’t hesitate to connect with Andrew Gaze at [email protected] or on 021 443 523
One of our key pillars is being an independent and sustainable organisation. To achieve this we not only need to develop a strong and robust membership but we also need to grow our commercial revenue. This has been a challenging task. If you have any commercial partners or donors who you think would be interested in supporting us, we would love to hear from you.
Thanks again for your support and for serving your athletes as a coach. We wish you a wonderful Christmas and a very special 2026.
Ngā mihi,
Tom Willmott
Chair
Mike Cron
A mastermind behind the intricacies of what determines a successful rugby scrum, Mike Cron has achieved legendary status, and nearly 40 years on remains in hot demand for his coaching expertise around the world.
A rarity in the uncertain world of sport’s coaching, Cron has never had to worry about job security since swapping from his original career of choice as a police detective to fulltime paid coach, having never applied for a rugby job or having gone through an interview process.
Coaching extensively across the amateur and professional divide, the mild-mannered Cantabrian has been hailed for his visionary approach to coaching techniques. In the process he has cemented his global status while leaving an unrivalled imprint on all corners of the rugby globe.
Tess Mattern
Tess Mattern grew up as a swimmer in Northern California, starting racing at just four years old. But following her own path has led her to becoming one of the top triathlon coaches in the South Island.
With two older sisters who swam, Mattern grew up at the pool, and swam throughout uni, teaching kids to swim when she was still young herself.
“My club coach as a kid was really a big proponent of teaching, and allowing us the opportunity to teach other people,” Mattern says of her coaching beginnings.
After graduating university with a sociology degree, Mattern wasn’t sure what direction she wanted her career path to go, so returned to her childhood swim club.
