Wanaka’s Hetty Van Hale is one of two people recently appointed to the prestigious High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) board of directors.

The organisation leads the high performance system in New Zealand, working in partnership with national sport organisations, allocating resources to sports organisations and athletes and delivering world-leading support for performance.

HPSNZ board chair Bill Moran said Hetty and the second appointee Rowan Wilson have both held previous directorships within the New Zealand sports sector and are recognised as leaders in their chosen fields.

“Their passion for high performance sport combined with their unique perspectives from their successful business careers will make them valuable additions to the board,” Bill said. 

“I look forward to working with Hetty and Rowan and the diversity of thought they will bring to board discussions.”

Hetty said she was thrilled to join the board of directors.

Wanaka resident Hetty Van Hale is now a member of HPSNZ’s board of directors.

“I am constantly inspired by the performances of our elite athletes and feel privileged to have the opportunity to contribute to shaping New Zealand’s world-class high performance system for the future,” she said.

“I will bring a national sporting organisation lens to the board with strong governance skills and experience in both high performance and community sport across winter and summer sports.”

Hetty Van Hale is chair of Badminton New Zealand, deputy chair of Winter Games New Zealand, a trustee of Sky City Queenstown Community Trust, and deputy chair of both the Three Lakes Cultural Trust and Central Lakes Trust. 

She has been a past board member of Snow Sports New Zealand, Wanaka Wastebusters, Mt Aspiring College Foundation, Lake Wanaka Tourism, Project Crimson and the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand.

Bill noted the appointments increased the size of the board from eight to nine, and six of the directors are women.

“As leader of the high performance system, it is important that HPSNZ is setting the right example and showcasing the significant contribution board diversity can make to good governance and sound decision making,” Bill said.

PHOTOS: Supplied