Governance: Ariana Reweti completes Basketball New Zealand Board Internship
For Ariana Reweti, the past 12 months has been an opportunity to both learn more about – and have a voice in – a subject she is extremely passionate about; the sport of basketball in Aotearoa.
In May 2023, Ariana joined the Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) Board as a Board Intern, a 12-month role that worked alongside the four elected and three appointed BBNZ board positions to help shape the future of basketball in this country. Ariana says the opportunity to take on this role came after a phone call from Tall Ferns sporting legend – and BBNZ Board Member – Megan Compain.
“Megan reached out to me to see if I’d be interested in sitting on the BBNZ board in an intern capacity. At the time the BBNZ Board had also acknowledged they were on a Te Ao Māori journey, which is something I was really interested in supporting,” says Reweti.
Although 30-year-old Ariana had been involved with boards in the past, this was her first time as part of a national sporting board; something that is rarely available to someone her age. It was an opportunity she was excited to be involved in.
“The first few board meetings were really about observing; learning about general board etiquette, the role of the chair, how board members contribute to each meeting and how to think high-level/strategically. I was very much just soaking it all in for the first few meetings, building an understanding about how it all works and what each member’s responsibilities were.
“From there it transpired into joining sub-committees, and this is where I started finding my own voice; I joined the Women and Girls sub-committee where I could contribute ideas in a smaller setting, and then I became more involved with the Te Ao Māori committee, working closely with Toko Kapea as we considered how to support the Board in building a stronger relationship with Māori Basketball.
“Progressively I started to find my voice a bit more at different meetings – different board members would ask for my perspective on things which I really appreciated and it allowed me to express what I was thinking. My experience in basketball has largely revolved around grassroots and at the community level, driven by my dad’s passion for the game. Without his influence and my involvement in grassroots basketball, I probably wouldn’t have had this chance. It’s been an incredible opportunity for me.”
Ariana says that the role has helped her ‘immensely’ to prepare for future board roles but also in her ability to continue to give to grassroots level basketball.
“I can’t emphasise just how much I’ve learnt in this one-year opportunity. It’s been invaluable, the things I’ve been able to learn in this time. It’s not only helped me learn about governance but also how I can continue to grow the sport of basketball in my own home here in Ōtaki. This is really important to me because it gives me a chance to give back to a community that’s already given so much to me.
“My background is in legal and Māori education, with basketball being a side passion. Being able to merge these areas in this role has been hugely beneficial and it has prepared me well and given me more confidence to pursue future board positions. Having Megan [Compain] as a Board mentor was also invaluable, we’d try to meet a week after board meeting just to check in and see how I was progressing and she’d ask me about my own observations.”
With Ariana’s 12 month term as a Board Intern completed, BBNZ is now looking for a new Future Director for year two of this initiative. Ariana says it is an opportunity that can be of immense benefit to someone with both an appetite for governance and a passion for basketball.
“My advice would be to embrace it and go for it, especially if you have an appetite for governance and are passionate and interested in being part of conversations that can help BBNZ to have a positive impact in basketball across Aotearoa.
“The skills I’ve picked up from this experience won’t just apply to basketball, it’ll apply across my entire world in many ways. It’s been a rich learning opportunity, and I believe other boards nationwide should consider similar initiatives. It’s about acknowledging the readiness of a new generation to engage and make meaningful contributions.”
“I couldn’t have asked for a more passionate, dedicated, and supportive board to learn from. Each member has so much to offer and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to learn from them all. I’m also super grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside BBNZ staff, especially Dillon who is doing incredible things to lead this organisation. The future of basketball is bright here in New Zealand”.
