Our Board

Michael Holmes

Chairperson (Ngāti Ranginui)

Tēnā koutou. Ko Tauranga tōku hau kainga, ko Ngāti Ranginui tōku iwi, Ko Ngai Te Ahi tōku hapū, Ko Michael Holmes ahau. While not born in West Auckland, Michael was certainly raised here, having moved to Whenuapai in 1976. Michael went to Waitākere College, and the University of Auckland, completing a Bachelor of Commerce. Michael played club rugby at Waitematā, and Club Cricket at Waitematā and Suburbs New Lynn. Michael has worked largely in consumer goods, developing his business management skills with a number of large multi-national companies, and a few smaller SMEs. Still living in West Auckland, he now raises two daughters with his wife Hinekura, and is excited by the opportunity to give back to a community that has given so much to him.

Ivan Harré

Deputy Chairperson

Ivan was raised in Fiji and came to live in Auckland in the mid-1970s. His experiences in the Pacific community at that time, have shaped his work as a Sports and Media Consultant, currently leading the Pacific Sporting Partnership Programme at Netball New Zealand. Ivan has deep family roots in West Auckland, having raised three boys in the west. He is passionate about the benefits sport can bring to the health and wellbeing of our people and communities, and finding ways to equip our sport and recreation systems to achieve this.

Robin Taua-Gordon

Board Member

Te Kawerau a Maki

Ko Waiti, Waiaua me Pawarenga ngā awa. Ko Puketora, Makeao me Ongaro ngā maunga. Ko Tainui, Mataatua me Mamari ngā waka. ​​​​​​​Ko Te Kawerau a Maki, Te Whakatohea me Te Rarawa ngā iwi. Robin works for Te Kawerau a Maki as the Executive Officer of the Mana Tangata Unit. Her role involves protecting and enhancing the cultural, social and environmental values of Te Kawerau a Maki, mana whenua of West Auckland. A proud resident of West Auckland who is passionate about empowering Māori and, in particular, young people. Robin has been involved in education for over 30 years and is currently completing a Master’s in Education at Auckland University. Robin was on the Auckland Conservation Board from 2017 - 2020 and is the Chairperson of Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust. Robin loves anything to do with the ocean and walking in the Waitakere Ranges, on opened tracks of course. Te toto o te tangata he kai, te oranga o te tangata, he whenua, he oneone - While food provides the blood in our veins, our health is drawn from the land and soils.

Dipak Bhoopatkar

Board Member

Dipak was born in India and migrated with his parents in the late 1980s to Auckland, which has been his home since. He attended the University of Auckland completing a Bachelor of Commerce and then qualified as a Chartered Accountant. In his career, Dipak has held executive and leadership roles in banking, finance and management consulting across organizations such as ANZ Bank, Goldman Sachs, PwC Consulting and Deloitte. He also enjoys contributing to voluntary roles including serving as a former board member of the ANZ Staff Foundation and currently as the Deputy Chair of the Oceania Football Audit and Risk Committee. Dipak lives in Auckland with his wife Ruth, teenage son Zak and Cavoodle, and loves spending time with family and friends as well as cricket and football.