Tasman Mayor takes on new challenge
Tim King was at Riwaka in his assistant coaching role with Wanderers as the Division 2 rugby season kicked off on Friday. Photo: Chris Symes/Shuttersport.
While Tim King remains undecided on whether to seek another Tasman mayoral term, he had no hesitation agreeing to a new rugby role.
Tim has joined the Tasman Rugby Union as an interim board member, replacing Chris Little who stepped down after taking a newly-created position co-ordinating age grade rugby. That left the board with only four members.
The pair are co-coaches in the U52kg representative grade and Chris declares Tim will be a great fit for the board.
“As well as his governance background, Tim has a brilliant rugby brain. He personifies grassroots rugby and is big on common sense,” enthuses the former board member.
“What’s that saying, if you want something done just ask a busy person,” says the mayor who is also a farmer, on several other boards and an assistant coach of the Wanderers Division 2 rugby side.
“I am so passionate about rugby; I am always ready to help out. I love coaching younger kids and at Wanderers, I am a spare part, hanger on and helper out. It is a good club, and it makes things easier if there are plenty of people to help out.
“What the game can offer the community is the key thing for me.” The former Wanderers wing/fullback attended his first TRU board meeting last week and noticed an immediate difference.
“It went for about two hours whereas council meetings run all day. Coming in cold, I learnt an awful lot and there is a lot more information to get my head around.”
He was aware of the discontent within the previous TRU board.
“I know there were challenges in that space, but you know what the rumour mill is like, everyone has an opinion. So, I was careful not to bring in any pre-judgements.”
TRU chief executive Steve Mitchell says Tim slotted in straight away and who better to have with his knowledge of process and grass roots connections.
A new board is due to be elected at the annual general meeting at the end of next month,
“So, my term is for three months. I won’t rule out putting my hand up for a permanent role.
“We will see what happens over that three months,” confirms Tim.
He’s not making a decision on running again for the Tasman District Council mayoralty until next month, but he already has one victory to celebrate.
Wanderers beat Riwaka 38-31 last Friday night to begin its defence of the Division 2 title.