Tina Leach

I was born and raised in Rotorua, and my connection to this community has shaped much of my personal and professional life. Growing up here has given me a strong understanding of our people, our strengths, and the opportunities we can create when we work together. Contributing to Rotorua's growth and supporting local kaupapa has always been a natural part of how I choose to give back.

Basketball has been a big part of my life for more than two decades. I've spent most of that time courtside as a manager, supporting players, coaches, and whānau across many seasons.

Basketball has always been a space where I see our rangatahi grow in confidence, identity, and pride. All four of my tamariki have played, and still play basketball, so the sport has been woven into our whānau life. Being involved as a parent and a volunteer has given me a real understanding of what our community needs to thrive, from grassroots to competitive levels.

I bring 30 years of experience in education, where I've built strong skills in leadership, communication, and supporting the success of tamariki and whānau. Over the past decade, my work within iwi and with the Ministry of Education has strengthened my ability to navigate complex systems, build trusted relationships, and advocate for community-focused solutions. Through all my roles, I've been guided by values like manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, and doing what's right for our people.

I have served on several trusts in governance roles, gaining experience in strategic planning, accountability, and ensuring decisions reflect the aspirations of the communities and whānau we serve. I value good processes, open communication, and collective leadership that uplifts everyone involved.

I am committed to creating opportunities for our rangatahi, strengthening pathways in basketball, and supporting a sport that has been such a big part of my own whānau journey. For me, serving on the Rotorua Basketball Association board is another way to give back to the sport that has given my whānau so much.