The Olympians' Commission provides opportunity for Olympians to celebrate their Olympic Experience, to continue their involvement in the Olympic Movement and to support the objectives of the NZOC. 

"Once an Olympian - Always an Olympian"

PANEL OF COMMISSIONERSOLYMPIAN NEWSLETTERS

The Olympians' Commission has a panel of eight members across both winter and summer games and they reside throughout New Zealand.

Olympians Commission Terms of Reference

NZOC Olympians' Commission Strategy 2021 - 2024

NZ OLYMPIAN COMMISSIONERS:

Chantal Brunner, Bevan Hari, Erika Harris, James Nation, Char Pouaka and Dave Schaper

Chantal Brunner #692 - Auckland - Athletics (1996, 2000) 

Chantal represented New Zealand in long jump at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, as well as at four Commonwealth Games and four IAAF World Championships.

Since her retirement in 2006, Brunner has retained close ties to the Olympic movement in New Zealand and internationally.

As the Chair of the NZOC’s Olympians Commission, Brunner leads work to provide New Zealand’s more than 1,300 Olympians opportunities to celebrate their Olympic experience and continue to be engaged in the Olympic Movement.

In tandem with her role on the NZOC’s Olympians’ Commission, Brunner was appointed to the Executive Committee of the World Olympians Association in 2016. Brunner was also appointed to the IOC’s Entourage Commission in 2018. The Commission aims to improve the quality and the level of services to athletes by engaging with and uniting the stakeholders.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to influence decisions impacting on athlete welfare that are being made at the highest level of Olympic sport.”

Brunner came out of retirement and managed to squeeze in some training to win her age group long jump at the World Masters Games in Auckland in 2017, with an NZ Masters record jump.

Bevan Hari #909 - Tauranga - Hockey (2004)

A veteran of over 200 tests, Hari was a highly accomplished and extremely competitive striker. Born in Rotorua, he made his debut for New Zealand in 1997 against Malaysia.  Hari was an integral part of the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games silver medal team and was there again when the Black Sticks beat Argentina in the final of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. He has played in the World Cup, Olympics and Commonwealth Games – something not a lot of players achieve.Bevan competed at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and at 3 Commonwealth Games.

Bevan has been a member of the NZOC Athlete Support team for 2 Commonwealth Games and 2 Olympic Games, he led the Athlete Support team at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Erika Harris # 987 - Queenstown - Alpine Skiing 2006

Erika was passionate about skiing and racing from a young age. She grew up skiing at Whakapapa Ski Field, her family members of Boomerang Ski Club, at 18 years old Erika relocated to Queenstown to ski full time.  

Erika was a member of the National Ski Team from 1995-2006, she won a number of National and Australasian titles and represented New Zealand at the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games where she competed in the Giant Slalom and Slalom events

Erika is a graduate of the 2020 WSLA programme wiErika has been a member of the Queenstown Alpine Ski Team Committee for many years and stepped up as Chair in 2020. On graduating from WSLA, Erika was accepted on the EY Women’s Athlete Business Network Programme.

James Nation #935 Dunedin - Hockey (2004, 2008) 

James debuted for the Black Sticks in 2001 and played 105 games for the team. He was a steady and reliable defender, who offered the rare ability to play in all four defensive positions – a skill that made him a vital part of the team. 

His career-highlight was being part of the 2004 Athens Olympic team, which finished 6th.

Nation is a member of the NZOC’s Olympian Commission where he works to engage Olympians through networking opportunities while celebrating their Games experiences.

Nation is currently a selector for the Blacksticks Men’s Hockey team and continues to play and coach hockey in Dunedin, while juggling his work as Chief Operating Officer at PKF Dunedin.

Char Pouaka #832 - Christchurch - Softball 2000

Char represented New Zealand for Softball at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Char is a graduate of the 2020 WSLA programme with fantastic leadership skills, mentored by Annette Purvis during WSLA. Char is currently coaching boys at both club and representative level in Canterbury and is a board member of Softball New Zealand.

She is also on the advisory group for the Canterbury Sports Development Academy: Tatai Whetu Waitaha (a new project proving wrap around support to assist aspiring youth to achieve their sporting goals).

Dave Schaper #739 - Nelson - Rowing (1996, 2000)

New Zealand rower Dave Schaper is a two-time Olympian. Schaper teamed up with Toni Dunlop to compete in the coxless pair at the 1996 Atlanta Games where they placed 5th; before representing New Zealand at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games in the coxless four where they were finalists.

He continues to be involved with the Olympic movement as a member of the NZOC’s Olympians Commission and is involved in sport at a regional level as the Chair of Sport Tasman.

Schaper now lives in Nelson where he is a branch manager and investment adviser at Forsyth Barr. He still enjoys the occasional row and dusted off the oars to race at the World Masters Games, although he’s more likely to be found out on a mountain bike enjoying Nelson’s great trails or getting in some waves on a surfski.

 

NZ OLYMPIAN NEWSLETTERS

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Enquiries, please contact Cathleen Bias at the New Zealand Olympic Committee cathleen@olympic.org.nz or 09 375 0040 Ext 396