Playing T-ball for Panthers (Invercargill) as a 4 year old was where it all started for me. Since then Softball has played a significant part of my life.
Highlights of my playing career vary from two time National Club Champion with Christchurch United Devils, gold medal at the Under 19 World Series in‘89’ to playing for the Black Sox in‘91’. After I retired from playing and still passionate about the game I ventured into the world of coaching. Seven seasons in Europe has played a considerable part in my coach development. Off seasons in Denmark (1), Italy (2) and the Netherlands (4) has been life changing and allowed me to see Softball in a different light gaining invaluable experience along the way. Highlights of my coaching career include coaching the Danish Men’s team at the 2000 World Series, Great Britain at the 2004 World Series and winning the Italian Cup with Forli in 2006.
I’ve been employed with Softball NZ since 2003 working in Invercargill, Christchurch and Wellington as a Regional Coaching Coordinator. Early this year I changed roles through office restructure to the newly formed role of Business Development Manager. The role entails boosting membership and generating revenue streams. I studied graphic and web design through Natcol and am currently completing several Bachelor of Commerce papers.
Eugene Gilbert
Event and Association Relationship Manager
Hello all, I have been associated with softball for many years, playing, coaching, umpiring, and lately in the administrative side of the game. I absolutely love the game along with the many other tireless volunteers who make the game of softball function in New Zealand.
I have worked in retail for a number of years, been a Business Analyst and Project Manager for the University of Waikato, and have extensive experience in the area of Market Research. Previously I have been on the Waikato Softball Association Board for a number of years primarily responsible for the senior competition, senior umpiring, and website content management.
I am grateful for the opportunity to work for the game I love, and I am responsible at SNZ for organising and running the National Tournaments, looking after the Associations who are the core of our game, and working closely with the Regional Game Development Officers. All I can say is I’m here to serve...
I have been involved in softball for as long as I can remember. I started out as a 10 year old in a club that my whanau have been a huge part of since its inception and still are up to this very day.
I have played representative softball for Hutt Valley at all levels and won many national titles both as a player and a coach. I remember the many coaches, managers, administrators & players who helped me develop my softball skills and shaped me as an individual. When my playing time was up, there was no doubt that I would continue to be involved in softball as a way of putting something back into the sport I loved.
Being captain of the only NZ Women’s team (1982) to win a world title was an undoubted highlight as was being a softball commentator at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. I am very proud that my daughter Kiri has followed my footsteps into national representation.
These days, along with coaching the Hutt Valley National League, I also get to watch my mokopuna play Tee Ball & Junior Softball...and so the cycle starts again!
I came to SNZ from a teaching background and landed my dream job of National Director of Coaching in 2005. I love the job and enjoy the camaraderie that comes with dealing with likeminded passionate softball people. Feel free to call me at anytime to talk softball on 04 560 0395 or naomi@softball.org.nz.
I can remember the first T’Ball team I played in at the tender age of 8. That is how my catching career really began, the kid that couldn’t catch was placed there, me.
25 years later I’m still catching and loving every minute of it, I’d love to hunt down my T’Ball coach and say ‘told you so…. told you I could catch’.
Up until the age of 21 I played softball in Australia for the North Shore Softball Association and NSW teams. I was sent to the beautiful New Zealand shores for development back in November 1997 with the Poneke Kilbirnine Softball Club, 12 years later I now call New Zealand home (and the Miramar Softball Club).
For those 12 years I worked for New Zealand Post in a whole bunch of roles, my latest role with post was Business Improvement Specialist. Some lifestyle choices have led me to the office of Softball New Zealand. Growing up as a softball infatuated kid working in a job within a softball organization was merely just a dream, now as National Teams Coordinator I get organize tours for our National Teams, ensure they can attend as many domestic and off shore events as feasible. Working with the Management of such teams to limit the logistical aspect of organizing our teams to get to the ‘show’ wherever and whenever that may be.
I have been involved with softball ever since I can remember. My parents both represented New Zealand; my mother as a player at the 1970 & 1974 World Series and my father was assistant coach of the NZ women’s team in 1974. So it has been a natural move for me to get involved as a player, coach and administrator from an early age.
I have represented Otago at all age groups and at 18 coached my first junior team and have never looked back. I have coached the Otago Senior Women, Ellis Park Senior Women and Southern Pride Women. The past five years have been exciting for me as I have been involved with the White Sox and Junior Black Sox as their videographer and had some great experiences.
I have been employed by SNZ as a Regional Coaching Coordinator since October 2006 based in the Lower South Island. Previously to this position I worked for the University of Otago for 18 years as an administrator in the School of Physical Education and the Chemistry Department. Softball is not only my job but it’s my passion. I love the game.
I am excited that I am able to give something back to a sport that has given me so much and look forward to continuing my relationships in the Lower South.
My experiences include both Sport and Event Management with elite athletes at a National and International level, Marketing and Management. In addition I have a sound knowledge of working with volunteers which I am sure will come in handy to this role which is new to the Tasman Region.
I have recently returned back from the UK where I held 2 positions; One being the National Team manager for the England U18 Women’s’ team for England Hockey. The second position is Hockey Development Officer for Active Surrey in partnership with Surrey Hockey Association. In both positions I was able to build a strong network of relationships, something which I hope to continue in the Tasman, Marlborough, and West Coast areas.
My previous employment in NZ saw me employed as one of Hockey NZ’s Regional Development Managers, based at the Auckland Hockey Association. My job entailed ensuring a high level of organisation of the Athletes, Coaches, Managers and volunteers involved at a National Hockey Level.
Both in NZ and England I work along side High Performance Athletes helping coach and encourage those that are aiming for National Representative Teams. My jobs in NZ have allowed me to form strong bonds with Hockey NZ, its Regional Offices, and the Sporting Trusts within Greater Auckland.
I am looking forward to the challenges that lay ahead of me and hope i can bring a fresh approach to softball in my region.
I have had 25 years in Secondary Education predominantly in New Zealand but with stints in Australia and England also. My major teaching subject is Physical Education, with some years as a Head of Department, but I have also taught Mathematics, Transition Education and Careers.
My personal sporting background is from competitive swimming, University basketball and provincial golf. Though the years I have accumulated coaching qualifications and experience through basketball, hockey, football, volleyball, athletics and of course softball.
This new role comes with a change of focus for me, from predominantly working with athletes to more one of facilitating and assistance of coaches and administrators.
I look forward to playing my part in helping grow the game of Softball in New Zealand.
Venita Hokai
Upper North Island
Email: Venita
Cell: 021537078
Ko Ngati Toke Matawhaurua te Waka, Ko Rangiputa te Maunga, Ko Awaroa te Awa, Ko Te Rarawa Te Iwi, Ko Venita Hokai ahau
It is with privilege I join the SNZ team as Regional Game Development Officer for the Upper North Island. My involvement in the game started when I was 9 years old, with my older brother pitching as hard as he could at me in the back yard with my job being to save the windows from smashing! In my early years I started with Henderson Bears then moving to Marist representing Auckland throughout Age Group teams. It was then I decided to play in the USA and was offered a full ride scholarship at Central Arizona College under the helm of USA Olympic Coach Mike Candrea. During that time I gained an Applied Science Degree in Administration of Justice. Returning back to New Zealand after 7 years I then joined the Ramblers Softball Club as a player/Coach and represented NZ.
After retiring from the game as a player I spent several years in Sydney working for IBM as a Logistics Manager and coaching a mixed team of teenagers in Cronulla! Returning to Auckland I was employed as a Television Production Manager and as an Outside Broadcast Director, mainly working on Secondary School sport. Up until my role with Softball New Zealand I worked as a Sports Coordinator with Rangitoto College the biggest school in Australasia with a roll of 3,500 students. I am also the Head Coach of the Junior White Sox team that will be heading to South Africa in December 2011!
I have had several highlights in my softball career I am very proud of achieving, including coaching Ramblers to a National Title in 1989, winning a NJCAA National title in the USA as a player, and recently with the Junior White Sox, taking a Test Series off the Australians!
I have always given 110% in every aspect of the game weather it was as a player, a Coach or an Administrator. I am excited about this role which will allow me to listen to the needs of all Softballers and go to bat for us!
Eugene Gilbert
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Venita Hokai
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