Podcast by Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti
04 December 2025
On this episode of The Sideline Yak, we’re switching things up a bit, because today we’re talking about play, and why it matters just as much as sport.
We’re joined by three local play champions: Anna Tolich and Nina Kirikiri from Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti — Anna is the Play Lead and Nina the Māori Tākaro Lead — and alongside them is Katie Kennedy, the Play Advocate at Gisborne District Council.
We chat about the play memories that stick with us, why risky play is actually full of learning, and what gets in the way for tamariki today such as time, screens, busy lives, and sometimes us adults. We also explore play through a Te Ao Māori lens, and how tākaro shows up not just physically, but through whānau, stories, and connection.
So here’s a wee challenge as you listen... think back to your earliest play memory, and if you can, share it with someone this week, or feel free to add it to the comments.
Sit back and have some fun with Anna, Nina and Katie. Please enjoy, kia ora!
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52:19
01 April 2025
On this episode of The Sideline Yak, we sit down with long-time Gisborne judo coach Jason King.
Jason shares his journey from starting judo as a four-year-old to producing Olympians, national champs, and over 20 black belts, all from right here in Gizzy.
It’s a kōrero packed with reflections on legacy, coaching with heart, and what it means to build a club culture where people feel like they belong.
Whether it’s sharing stories of his dad, his coaching philosophy, or why judo is still his happy place after all these years—this one’s full of great messages and grounded wisdom.
Please enjoy, kia ora!
Finger Tape Podcast (Paul Jefferson) - Jason King episode
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4lZA72ZnTU7Thfc6N9f7jy?si=e9a7acfada5848fb
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01:07:42
28 February 2025
We’ve got an epic guest today, a proud Gisborne local who’s made a name for herself on the world surfing stage—Olympian Saffi Vette. She’s gone head-to-head with the best in the sport, proudly worn the silver fern, and even taken on Teahupo’o—one of the heaviest and most dangerous waves in the world.
Her journey hasn’t been easy—she’s faced the highs and lows of elite sport, the heartbreak of losing her dad, and the challenges of dyslexia. But with resilience, determination, and a deep love for the ocean, she’s carved out her place in the sport, overcoming obstacles and achieving incredible milestones along the way.
We chat about what it means to represent Aotearoa, the mental game behind elite competition, and the lessons she’s learned from both success and struggle. From growing up in Gizzy, where local legends inspired her, to figuring out how to balance the pressure of competing with the simple joy of surfing, this is an honest and inspiring yak.
So, kick back, grab a cuppa, and enjoy this episode with Saffi.
Kia ora.
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01:39:29
28 June 2024
On this episode, we are joined by Lizzie Hall and Lee Smith, two coaches who will be familiar to our football community. Lizzie and Lee have been involved with football both from a young age, Lizzie starting here in Gisborne and Lee over in the UK.
They are passionate about football, you will either see them playing, officiating and coaching most weekends, potentially doing all three over a weekend. They are strong advocates for the improvement of female football here in Te Tairawhiti, and have both previously worked for Central Football in the development space.
We talk to them about their early years, what got them into coaching, and who their influences were. We also take a look at women’s football here and discuss what we can do to better support it, including touching on the rep programme and the challenges our district faces. Plus, we answer the big question, "Why is it called football and soccer?" and explore the origin of why football is known as "The Beautiful Game."
We are almost at the end of our first series of The Sideline Yak, and we would love to get your feedback. We want to know what you liked and what you didn’t. If you know someone from Te Tairāwhiti who would make a great guest, let us know. Feel free to share your thoughts with us by emailing the theyak@whitiora.org.
For now, let’s get back to the show. Please enjoy this episode with Lizzy and Lee. Kia ora!
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59:19
29 April 2024
In this episode, I sit down with Diana Dobson, also known as Dobbie, an award-winning journalist and photographer whose career spans various sports, with a particular passion for horses. Diana's impressive resume includes coverage of three World Equestrian Championships, Burghley, Equitana, and multiple Horse of the Year events.
But Diana's accomplishments don't stop there. She served as a press attaché at the Rio Olympic Games, followed by the Tokyo Olympics, and is gearing up for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. In between, she covered the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games from home.
During our conversation, Diana offers valuable insights into her work, sharing stories of her interactions with high-profile athletes like Mark Todd, Lisa Carrington, and Laurel Hubbard. We discuss her journey into sports journalism, the intricacies of her roles as a media liaison and press attaché, and the evolving landscape of sports coverage.
Diana shares her experiences from the various events she's covered, recounting both the triumphs and challenges she's encountered alongside athletes. Our conversation explores the significance of respect, trust, and relationship-building in effectively conveying athletes' stories, touching upon the crucial topic of mental wellbeing among athletes. She offers valuable advice to aspiring athletes on navigating media engagements. And of course, no conversation with Diana would be complete without mention of her beloved English bull terrier, Louie.
It took some persuasion, but I'm delighted that Diana has shared her story with us. Her journey is not only inspiring but also a testament to the dedication and passion she brings to her work. And with her continued commitment, there are certainly more awesome stories yet to come, so please enjoy.
Kia ora!
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01:07:29
30 March 2024
On today’s show we chat with New Zealand international sports star Trish Hina, better known as 'Chockee'. Trish has represented New Zealand in four sports – softball, touch, rugby union and rugby league.
Trish has been described as arguably one of New Zealand's greatest sportswoman, winning three women's rugby league World Cups and being named MVP in two of those tournaments. Trish was then selected into the 2010 Black Ferns World Cup squad who went on to win that tournament becoming the first women to win a league and a union World Cup. She was inducted into the NZ Rugby League Legends of League and has the honour of having the MVP medal named after her for the NRL Indigenous All Stars rugby league event.
Trish faced a major life challenge in 2011 when she was diagnosed with Stage-4 Kidney Disease ending her high performance career, but like anything Trish puts her mind to, she was able to overcome adversity and was back playing competitive sport in 2020 when she returned to rugby league for the National Women's Championship.
We chat with Trish about her nickname and how that came about and the influence her family and friends had on her growing up through her love for sport. We discuss the secret sauce that got her to the international stage and how culture is an important part of sport, both as a player and a coach.
Trish shares the feelings she had when diagnosed with CKD and how she was able to maintain a good mindset to get her back on the field. We also discuss how giving back through coaching has provided opportunities for other young wahine to play sport, either for fun or to go on to greater aspirations.
Trish's impressive CV is backed up by resilience, generosity and kindness which is evident within our kōrero, and we are truly grateful to be able to share her story with you today, so please enjoy.
Kia ora.
www.whitiora.org.nz
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