Canoe Racing New Zealand has appointed Chris Emmett as its new National Pathway Lead, with the role beginning on 1 September 2026.
Emmett arrives with a background spanning club paddling, coaching, selection and sport administration. Most recently he held senior leadership roles at Surf Life Saving New Zealand, where he ran national programmes and worked on club capability and long-term organisational strategy.
New Zealand canoe racing has enjoyed unprecedented international success in recent years. Behind that success, CRNZ has been working to strengthen the foundations that support it: club support, coach development, athlete pathways and community growth. Emmett's appointment is described as an important next step in that work.
He is no stranger to the sport. Within the paddling community, Emmett is already known as a paddler, coach, selector and club leader in his own right.
That blend of community grounding and systems experience stood out through a highly competitive recruitment process. He demonstrated clear systems thinking and a practical understanding of how strong clubs, quality coaching and effective athlete pathways contribute to long-term success.
Emmett will be based primarily at the Canoe Racing New Zealand Centre at Lake Karapiro, working closely with clubs, coaches, volunteers and athletes across the country. The CRNZ Centre remains the anchor location for the development system, linking community participation through to athlete development and high performance.
CRNZ chief executive Graham Oberlin-Brown said the appointment reflected exactly what the organisation was looking for. "Chris brings a rare combination of strategic thinking, practical delivery experience and a genuine passion for developing people," he said. "He understands the importance of strong clubs, quality coaching and positive athlete environments, and will play a key role in helping us build on the momentum our sport has generated in recent years. We're excited about what his appointment means for the future of canoe racing in New Zealand."
CRNZ High Performance Director Tristan Collins agreed. "Chris has a proven track record of bringing people together around a shared vision and turning strategy into action," Collins said. "He understands the importance of connecting clubs, coaches, athletes and performance programmes, and we're excited to have him join the team as we continue to strengthen our development pathways across New Zealand."
