Skip to content
The Sideline Yak podcast artwork

PODCAST · sports

The Sideline Yak

by Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti

The Sideline Yak podcast is all about showcasing local sports experts and their stories, while also sharing the best tips and tricks to make sport more awesome here in Te Tairāwhiti. Whether you're a coach, an official, or a sports parent, this podcast has got you covered with practical advice and insights, and will serve as a valuable resource for our community.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Sep 5, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. EP15: Leigh Gibbs - Lessons from a Silver Fern

    On this episode of The Sideline Yak we chat with netball legend Leigh Gibbs. Leigh grew up here in Gisborne before going on to represent New Zealand as a Silver Fern for nearly a decade, playing 61 Tests and captaining the team that won the Netball World Cup in 1987. Since then she’s stayed…

    more
  2. EP14: Let's Play - Anna Tolich, Nina Kirikiri, Katie Kennedy

    On this episode of The Sideline Yak, we’re switching things up a bit, because today we’re talking about play, and why it matters just as much as sport. We’re joined by three local play champions: Anna Tolich and Nina Kirikiri from Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti — Anna is the Play Lead and Nina the Māori...

  3. EP13: Jason King - Legacy, loyalty, and a life in judo

    On this episode of The Sideline Yak, we sit down with long-time Gisborne judo coach Jason King. Jason shares his journey from starting judo as a four-year-old to producing Olympians, national champs, and over 20 black belts, all from right here in Gizzy. It’s a kōrero packed with reflections on...

  4. EP12: Saffi Vette - Taking on the world, one wave at a time

    We’ve got an epic guest today, a proud Gisborne local who’s made a name for herself on the world surfing stage—Olympian Saffi Vette. She’s gone head-to-head with the best in the sport, proudly worn the silver fern, and even taken on Teahupo’o—one of the heaviest and most dangerous waves in the...

  5. EP11: Chronicles of a Coach - Lizzie Hall and Lee Smith

    On this episode, we are joined by Lizzie Hall and Lee Smith, two coaches who will be familiar to our football community. Lizzie and Lee have been involved with football both from a young age, Lizzie starting here in Gisborne and Lee over in the UK. They are passionate about football, you will...

  6. EP10: Diana Dobson - From hooves to Olympics, a sports journalism journey

    In this episode, I sit down with Diana Dobson, also known as Dobbie, an award-winning journalist and photographer whose career spans various sports, with a particular passion for horses. Diana's impressive resume includes coverage of three World Equestrian Championships, Burghley, Equitana, and...

  7. EP9: Trish Hina - New Zealand's greatest sportswoman

    On today’s show we chat with New Zealand international sports star Trish Hina, better known as 'Chockee'. Trish has represented New Zealand in four sports – softball, touch, rugby union and rugby league. Trish has been described as arguably one of New Zealand's greatest sportswoman, winning three...

  8. EP8: Chronicles of a Coach - Arna Majstrovic, Rose Hulls and Kelly Swann-Ferris

    Welcome back to our segment of The Sideline Yak . . . Chronicles of a Coach, where we get three coaches in a room and discuss topics related to sport! On this episode I sit down with Arna Majstrovic, Rose Hulls and Kelly Swann-Ferris, three teacher coaches who have worked in and around community...

  9. EP7: Sam Parkes - Rugby, kickboxing, and why the East Coast is so special

    On today’s show we chat with Ngati Porou East Coast rugby captain and King in the Ring kickboxing champ, Sam Parkes. Sam is sired to the coast, in particular Tolaga Bay which he calls home. He plays rugby for Uawa Sports Club and represents Ngati Porou East Coast in the Heartland competition. Sam...

  10. EP6: Sydnee Andrews - Judo star shining bright on the world stage

    Today on the show we chat with Sydnee Andrews, judo athlete and Commonwealth Games bronze medalist. Sydnee started judo when she was 5 years old and has rapidly made a name for herself on the national and international stage. Relocating to the United Kingdom, Sydnee is based out of Camberley Judo...

  11. EP5: Chronicles of a Coach - Keenan Ruru-Poharama, Adrian Sparks and Adam Tapsell

    Welcome to a new segment of The Sideline Yak . . . Chronicles of a Coach! We wanted to test something out a little bit different this time . . . we were curious to know what would happen if we got three coaches in a room and talked sport – where would it take us, what would be discussed?!? I was...

  12. EP4: Miah Nikora - Reflections of a professional rugby athlete

    Miah Nikora currently works for the Poverty Bay Rugby Union as the Game Development Officer. He is the head coach of the Poverty Bay Heartland rugby team and is the assistant coach of the 2023 NZ Heartland XV rugby team. We talk about his new vocation as a coach but more importantly Miah takes us...

  13. EP3: Cristal Kemp and Monique McLeod - Navigating the netball parent-coach journey

    We have two amazing wāhine from the Tairāwhiti netball community on this episode of The Sideline Yak -- Cristal Kemp and Monique McLeod. Cristal and Mons both love netball! They have played the game, umpired the game and coached the game and have been coaching for many years developing their...

  14. EP2: Florian Bub - An honest, humble Bavarian boardrider

    Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa - warm greetings to you all. Today on the show, we’re talking to local surfing sage and coach Florian Bub... Flo as he is more commonly known. Flo has called Tūranga/Gisborne home for the last seven years after leaving his Bavarian hometown for the Kiwi surfing...

  15. EP1: Amber Church – International umpire and local hockey hero

    Today on the show, we’re talking to international umpire and local hockey hero Amber Church. Amber has officiated over 100 international matches throughout her career! After receiving her international badge in Brazil in 2010 she has gone on to umpire at the Olympic Games, World Cups, and the...

Type above to search every episode's transcript for a word or phrase. Matches are scoped to this podcast.

Searching…

We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.

No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.

Showing of matches

No topics indexed yet for this podcast.

Loading reviews...

ABOUT THIS SHOW

The Sideline Yak podcast is all about showcasing local sports experts and their stories, while also sharing the best tips and tricks to make sport more awesome here in Te Tairāwhiti. Whether you're a coach, an official, or a sports parent, this podcast has got you covered with practical advice and insights, and will serve as a valuable resource for our community.

HOSTED BY

Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Sideline Yak have?

The Sideline Yak currently has 15 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The Sideline Yak about?

The Sideline Yak podcast is all about showcasing local sports experts and their stories, while also sharing the best tips and tricks to make sport more awesome here in Te Tairāwhiti. Whether you're a coach, an official, or a sports parent, this podcast has got you covered with practical advice and...

How often does The Sideline Yak release new episodes?

The Sideline Yak has 15 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to The Sideline Yak?

You can listen to The Sideline Yak on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts The Sideline Yak?

The Sideline Yak is created and hosted by Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti.
URL copied to clipboard!