A new President, three new board members, an operating surplus and a legendary Patron calling time.
The 42nd Annual General Meeting of Triathlon New Zealand had plenty of juicy takeaways for the swim, bike and run community on Saturday.
Auckland’s Reuben Tucker succeeded Natalie Smith as President with Smith signing off after six years in the role and nine as a member of the board.
Tucker, Managing Director of Institutional & Business Banking at Westpac NZ, takes the Chair and Presidency with existing board member Bex Grace (North Harbour) stepping up to support as Deputy President.
The three new members welcomed to the board were Darryl Soljan (Auckland), Nicola Hankinson (Wellington) and Kylie Hawker-Green (Katikati). Soljan was elected by the Tri NZ membership as a Part A member and Hankinson and Hawker-Green selected via appointment panel as Part B members as per the Tri NZ constitution.
The trio join forces with existing members Tucker, Grace, Mike King (Christchurch) and Maris Holt (Mangawhai).
Garth Barfoot MNZM stood down as Tri NZ Patron at the online meeting as a matter of general business. His on-going contribution to the sport was hailed out-going President Smith, Tri NZ CEO Pete De Wet and the wider AGM attendance. Tri NZ will now go through the process of appointing Barfoot’s successor.
In his CEO report, De Wet announced a $151,000 surplus, largely attributed to Tri NZ securing hosting rights a triple crown of World Triathlon events in Tauranga over the next three years: November’s World Triathlon Cup, a 2027 WTCS round and the 2028 World Triathlon Championship Grand Final.
Tucker, in his outgoing role as Audit and Finance Committee Chair, described the surplus as a “solid result in a still challenging environment” that had put Tri NZ “on the front foot with the sport globally at an inflection point.”
He later paid tribute to outgoing board member Victoria Murray-Orr and Smith who signed off her two terms in the top job by saying she had been “immensely proud to serve as your President”.
Tucker said Smith had “led the ship” admirably through a “super difficult period” triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Natalie leaves a lasting legacy after challenging us [the board], with Pete [De Wet], to see what the sport can be. You and Pete have got us there and now it is up to us to take that lead into the next chapter.”
In his CEO report, De Wet said key milestones for the national governing body in 2025 had been securing the Tauranga triple crown and signing off its new 2025-2028 strategic plan. Both offered momentum to drive Tri NZ’s longterm financial sustainability and into an exciting future for the sport with the redrawing of traditional pathways following the Professional Triathlete Organisation’s long-term partnership with World Triathlon.
“Reflecting on 2025, it has been a significant year for Triathlon New Zealand, with strong progress across strategy, participation, performance, and financial sustainability,” De Wet said.
“A key milestone was the development of our new strategy through to 2029. Built around four clear priorities, growing the triathlon community, world-class performance, visibility, and strong governance and sustainability, it gives us a clear and practical roadmap for the years ahead.
“One of the standout achievements this [past] year was securing the rights to host three World Triathlon events, culminating in the Championship Series Final in Tauranga in 2028. This is a major opportunity for the sport in New Zealand. It strengthens our international position, supports our commercial growth, and creates a platform to deliver real impact across our entire community.
“Financially, while the environment remains challenging, we finished the year with a surplus of $151,000. This positions us well moving forward, particularly with the certainty created through securing our upcoming international events.”
Tri NZ saw a participation boost in 2025, had sharpened its high-performance focus on LA 2028, and had doubled down on its commitment to inclusion and Para pathways to help forge a more accessible future for the sport.
De Wet thanked the board for its “guidance and leadership” and acknowledged his staff and contractors for “your commitment and the standards you continue to set.”
“Ultimately everything we have achieved this year comes back to people. Across the country, our volunteers, officials, clubs, coaches, and event teams continue to make the sport possible. Our Age Group athletes represent New Zealand with pride, both here and on the world stage, and our partners and funders play a critical role in supporting our ambitions.
“Together, we are building more than a successful sport. We are building a strong, connected triathlon community that is well placed for the future, and I am confident about what lies ahead.”
