Chairman
Shane Petley
Hamilton

Shane is currently the Club captain for the Waikato Dragon Boat and Waka Ama Association. He started dragon boating in 1989 with NZ Forest Products and 1992 was with the South Waikato Dragon Boat Club. He then moved on to Hamilton City Dragons in 1993 and in 1996 to ECNZ. He has been with Hamilton City Watersports since 1999.

 Shane will tell you that from the very first time he picked up a blade he’s had a passionate draw to the sport of dragon boating. As a keen rugby, softball and touch player Shane always longed for dragon boat season. The adrenaline nature of the sport with racing 350-500 Metres in close quarters with the opposition, the socialising at memorable after parties, the people that you paddled with from vast and varied backgrounds and the friendship bonds that have been forged have never been lost as paddlers passed through the gunnel of his boat.

As a coach Shane enjoys watching people develop confidence, friendships, fitness and mastery of the stroke in their unique way leading for some onto representative honours in dragon boating and outrigging national teams.

As the new Chair of the NZDBA board Shane is very excited about the future of dragon boating in New Zealand with a number of major developments over the past year that have hopefully sparked a comeback for the sport under paddler/NZDBA control.

Event Director
Dave Elliott
Wellington

Dave started paddling in the early 1990's.The team was called the Komodo Dragons and were very competitive and gained a number of top placings at the various regattas and festivals as well as winning Nationals in the Open Social Division.

Dave trialled with the Black Dragons in 1997 for the World Crew Clubs 1998 however due to a major knee injury Dave withdrew, he then rejoined Komodo Dragons at which time Dave learnt to sweep. In the Millenium of 2000 Dave started coaching and sweeping secondary schools.

Dave joined NZDBA in 2003, he has been on NZDBA since then holding the roles of secretary and treasurer and was elected Chairman at the 2008 AGM. Dave also holds a seat on the NZ Canoe Federation Board and has represented NZDBA at the IDBF Council. While attending the IDBF CCWC Champs in Penang, Malaysia, Dave passed the IDBF Race Officials Exam and is now registered as an IDBF Race Official.

Daves passion is to see the sport run by "paddlers for paddlers" and to move the sport forward in NZ by creating a more competitive and open environment to its members, and keeping the traditions and cultural heritage of the dragon boat sport alive into the 21st Century.

Secretary/Equipment
Noel Anderton
Christchurch

Noel has paddled for more than 14 years for Airways Corporation's team; firstly in Auckland (Airways “Thunderbirds”) and since 1999 for the Christchurch team, Airways “Paddlateers”. Noel progressed from paddling in the 'engine room' to paddler/ manager of the Paddlateers in 2005. Then when Mainland Dragons 'retired' in 2007, Noel put his hand up for the role of secretary for the Aoraki Dragon Boat Association. He was elected to the NZDBA board at the 2008 AGM and has held the role of treasurer, and from 2009 the roles of 'Boats and Equipment Director'  and Secretary.

For Noel, the key to Dragon Boating's appeal is its accessibility.  It provides such great value to Corporates, as it is attractive to all 'makes and models' of employees.  In fact, in Airways there don't seem to be many who have not been in the boat. 

The second interesting feature is that many paddlers will say they are in it for the fun, and the social contacts etc.  But once they go to "attention" on the start line, you can be sure they all want to win! 

Junior Development Director
Sooupu Perese
Auckland

Sooupu Perese is an iconic figure in the Auckland dragon boating scene, appearing on the back of many boats. But Sooupu was not always on the back of the boat; he, like many other coaches and sweeps started his sporting career paddling. The line up of teams he has paddled with includes: Lion Breweries, Tsunami, 1995 NZ Men's Dragon Boat team, Auckland Men's Dragon Boat team, 1997 Men's Dragon Boat team, 1997 Mixed Dragon Boat team.

These days Sooupu coaches and sweeps for Lion Breweries, Epsom Girls, Botany Downs, Auckland Development Squad, Pink Dragons and he is helping out with many other teams working with them closely to improve performance.  Sooupu is also an Executive Committee Member for the newly formed Auckland Dragon Boat Association.

Sooupu was at his most proud when he wore the NZ uniform in China in 95, for the first World Cup of dragon boating. 

Breast Cancer and Special Interests Director
Mary McAvoy
Wellington

Mary has been involved with Breast Cancer Dragon Boating since 2002.  She is a Founding member of the CanSurvive Dragon Boat Team which commenced with paddlers of all cancer survivors. The challenge  to themselves along with that of Wellington Harbour soon earned them the title of “paddlers with attitude” .The last three years has seen the team competing as breast cancer only. 

What is of considerable importance to her is keen interaction between the various teams in New Zealand.  Due to the geographical distance there are limited opportunities to compete against each other.  Seasonal changes denote the time available to spend in an activity which renews hope and inspiration to breast cancer survivors by pushing limits of physical and mental endurance. They come together as a result of their journey through adversity with the choice to participate in dragon boating having no common thread except the challenge of the unknown experience

 The New Zealand Dragon Boat Association has recognized the significance of Breast Cancer Dragon Boating with their own division at National Regattas and a position on the NZDBA executive board which Mary holds.

 Internationally Mary holds the position of New Zealand representative on the International Breast Cancer Paddling Commission Steering Committee.The IBCPC ensures standards and hosting criteria for international competitive breast cancer paddling events alongside liaison with the IDBF.  A key factor is the communication and mentoring of member teams.

Public Relations and Communications
Meri Gibson
Christchurch

Meri saw a group of women at a funeral wearing pink boas and asked who they were - “dragon boaters” came the response.  She attended an open day for a trial paddle and the rest is history.

She has paddled for several seasons with Abreast of Life team, competing in and winning the NZ champs in 2007.  In 2008 she established high media profile in Canterbury for the team and the sport, as part of Amazon Hearts (an international composite team) at the BC Worlds regatta in Caloundra, Australia in Oct 2007 coming 7th overall. Meri continues to paddle with the members of her composite team having competed in two regattas in Sydney with her dam Busters team mates, where they won a silver in 2008 and the gold in 2009.

Meri is one of the founding members and the chair of Aoraki Dragon Boat Association, the governing body for the South Island. Being involved in setting up Aoraki Dragon Boat Association is something she is really proud of particularly as she had only been in the sport for a short period of time with all the seasoned dragon boaters placing their implicit trust in her to get the job done.

She has simply loved the sport from the very first moment she stepped gingerly onto the boat. Striving hard to bring professionalism to the sport in all things she and her fellow team members and board members do.  Most of all she is very excited about the future of the sport in particular the closer dragon boat relations with the Aussies.