Duncan Holland has been appointed to a newly created South Island Coach Educator role, giving the region's rowing coaches a dedicated point of contact from next season.
The position runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027, and sits within a broader Rowing New Zealand push to build a more joined-up coach education network across both islands. The Otago Rowing Association has been named RNZ's preferred regional partner to deliver it.
Holland is no stranger to the job. He's already well known in South Island coaching circles, having served as ORA's Coach Mentor in previous seasons and helped run coach education sessions for RNZ over the past year.
Rather than starting from scratch, RNZ is building on what already works. The regional partnership taps into ORA's existing mentorship framework rather than replacing it, pooling resources so the expertise reaches coaches right across the South Island.
ORA will also work with the Southland Rowing Association to coordinate mentoring and coaching support through the lower South Island.
The role splits into two seasonal focuses. Over winter 2027, the priority is course delivery, with Holland running Rowing NZ Level 1 (Introduction) and Level 2 (Development) coaching courses both in person and online.
Come summer 2026/2027, the emphasis shifts to hands-on mentoring. Holland will work directly alongside coaches, either in person or online, at clubs and schools, reinforcing course content, helping with training programmes and rigging, and connecting coaches back into RNZ's wider pathways.
Across the year, RNZ expects up to six Level 1 and Level 2 workshops delivered around the South Island, three in-person development days each in Otago, Southland, Canterbury and Marlborough, and six online mentoring sessions open to coaches throughout the region. There's also an ongoing feed of input into national coach development projects.
Jared Cummings, General Manager of Sport Development at Rowing New Zealand, said the appointment reflects RNZ's commitment to supporting coaches nationwide.
"We are very pleased to be moving forward with the Otago Rowing Association and Duncan Holland. Duncan is a fantastic fit for what we are seeking to achieve. This regional partnership is a critical step in professionalising and stabilising coach education, ensuring our volunteer coaches are consistently supported."
Emma Barker, Manager of the Otago Rowing Association, welcomed the announcement.
"This regional partnership is an exciting milestone that builds directly on the feedback and success of our previous mentor roles. We know our local coaches thrive on personalised, practical mentoring. Combining RNZ's support with our existing systems allows us to expand our reach, collaborate effectively with SRA, and continue upskilling our coaching team to support our athletes."
Coaches, clubs and school programmes across the South Island wanting details on course dates, regional development days, or mentoring sessions can get in touch with Rowing New Zealand or the Otago Rowing Association.
