Howie Tamati

Howard Kevin Tamati (born 3 January 1953), generally known as Howie Tamati, is a New Zealand politician and former professional rugby league footballer and coach who played for New Zealand. Of Māori descent, he affiliates to the Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Mutunga and Ngāi Tahu iwi. He played against his cousin in the final of the 1984 Challenge Cup.

Coach

Tamati began his coaching career with the Wellington side. He then coached the New Zealand side for two years from 1992. He was replaced in 1994 by Frank Endacott.

Tamati coached the Taranaki Rockets in the 1996 Lion Red Cup and the 1997 Super League Challenge Cup.

In 1997, he was appointed the coach of the Oceania Nines Fiji national team.

Since 2007, he has been the convener of the New Zealand Kiwis selectors.

Administrator

Tamati currently serves as the Chairman of the New Zealand Māori Rugby League starting in 2004.

Tamati was the CEO of Sport Taranaki from 1994-2019. In 2013 he was appointed the president of New Zealand Rugby League.

Political career

Tamati served three terms as a New Plymouth District Councillor from 1999 to 2007. He was re-elected as a councillor in October 2010. He is the former chairman of Te Ihi Tu Maori Prisoner Habilitation Centre in New Plymouth.

In 2016 he announced he would not seek re-election to the council in 2015 and won the Māori Party nomination for the Te Tai Hauāuru electorate in the 2017 New Zealand general election.

Honours and awards

In 1990, Tamati was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.

Tamati was selected as the patron of New Zealand Police recruitment wing 245 in 2007. He has also been inducted into the Taranaki Sports Hall of Fame.