Regional Sports Directors
Job Purpose
Our Regional Sports Directors (RSDs) work with over 45 secondary kura across the Counties Manukau Region.
Our RSDs help plan and deliver key initiatives that strengthen sport and physical activity opportunities for more rangatahi to be engaged in. This includes:
- Providing schools and kura with advice, information, and resources
- Offering networking and professional learning opportunities
- Supporting schools to plan and run projects that address local challenges
- Helping to build partnerships between schools, kura, and community sport or recreation organisations to create meaningful, high-quality activity experiences
- Support schools with Sports and Annual Plans, Sport Staff Inductions, School Sport NZ Census Data Collection and Analysis, Voice of Tamariki Data Collection and Analysis, applications for Tū Manawa Funding
The position also works closely with the He Oranga Poutama team to provide additional support and opportunities for kura.
Background
Auckland is a diverse and dynamic city, full of cultures, communities, and opportunities. While there are challenges, this diversity also gives us a unique chance to help more young people — tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) aged 5–18 — get active and stay active.
Our focus is on supporting those who may have fewer opportunities to participate, especially:
- Young people in low socio-economic areas
- Girls and young women aged 10–18
- Māori, Indian, Samoan, and Chinese communities
To achieve this, we follow The Auckland Approach to Community Sport, a strategic plan that supports Aktive’s vision of Auckland being the world’s most active city.
A key part of this approach is Korikori — a regional system designed to make sure all tamariki and rangatahi, particularly those in high-deprivation communities, can enjoy quality physical activity experiences through play, physical education, active recreation, and sport.
Korikori supports schools and kura across Auckland — primary, intermediate, and secondary — to create fun, inclusive, and meaningful opportunities for students to move, learn, and grow through physical activity.
Our Regional Sports Directors
Junior Manapori
Regional Sports Director
Junior is passionate in supporting secondary schools and kura across the region to deliver meaningful, inclusive sport and active recreation opportunities for rangatahi. He is deeply committed to ensuring rangatahi feel connected, valued, and confident.
In this role, Junior’s work involves developing strategy, providing resources and professional development to schools, coordinating events, and building partnerships to increase participation and improve programme quality across the region.
His approach is grounded in relationships, cultural responsiveness, and the voice of rangatahi — recognising that belonging, wellbeing, and identity are at the heart of sustainable sport environments.
With a background in education, community sport, and youth development, Junior provides advocacy, strategic guidance, and practical support that empowers schools and communities to thrive, collaborate, and lead positive change for young people across the Counties Manukau region.
Judith Coe
Regional Sports Director
Judith supports 40 secondary schools across Counties Manukau. She is dedicated to helping secondary schools and kura deliver meaningful, inclusive sport and active recreation opportunities for rangatahi, ensuring they feel connected, valued, and confident in their environments. Her role involves developing strategy, providing resources and professional development, coordinating events, and building strong partnerships to increase participation and enhance the quality of sport programmes across the region.
Grounded in relationships, cultural responsiveness, and the voice of rangatahi, her approach recognises that belonging, wellbeing, and identity are central to creating sustainable sport environments. Supported by Junior’s advocacy, strategic leadership, and deep experience in youth development, our work empowers schools and communities to thrive, collaborate, and drive positive change for young people throughout Counties Manukau.