Meet our newly appointed coaches Carissa Maka (Senior Wāhine Coach) and Sam Hewett (Junior Tāne Coach).
Carissa Makea
NZMH Senior Wāhine Coach
“I am truly honoured to be appointed as the Senior Wāhine Coach for the upcoming season! Transitioning from player to coach will undoubtedly present new challenges, but I am filled with excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of our wāhine toa.
We have assembled a talented squad of 30 remarkable wāhine, and I am eager to play a pivotal role in their personal and collective success. Together, we will strive for excellence, foster a positive team culture, and build on our strengths.
As we embark on this journey, I am committed to supporting each player’s development while working towards our shared goals. I look forward to celebrating the achievements of our athletes both on and off the field!
While my coaching experience has primarily been in club and youth divisions, I bring a wealth of experience from my time as a key player in our senior wāhine teams, including participating in the Oceania Hockey 5s and the World Cup in Oman. I am excited to leverage this experience to inspire and lead our team towards success.”
Let’s embrace this journey together and make this season one to remember!
Sam Hewett
NZMH Junior Tāne Coach
Sam plays a key role in the NZ Māori hockey community, serving as the Senior Tāne Assistant Coach alongside Head Coach Mark Kake. He has a rich coaching background, demonstrating a strong commitment to talent development and advancing the sport.
Notable Coaching Achievements:
- NSU Premier Reserve Men’s Coach, where he developed players’ potential.
- High-Performance Coach, focused on elite athlete training.
- Recognized as Men’s Coach of the Year 2023 for outstanding leadership.
- Gained international experience as Valley Hong Kong Senior Coach.
- Served as NZ Asian Men’s Head Coach, promoting national diversity.
- Assisted in the growth of the Tamaki Makaurau men’s program.
- Currently develops Māori hockey talent as the NZ Māori Senior Tāne Assistant Coach.
Sam’s diverse coaching roles and dedication significantly impact the hockey community, furthering the sport at multiple levels.
“I’m incredibly grateful to be appointed Junior Tāne head coach for the upcoming 2025 seasonal fixtures. Being able to spread my knowledge and help nurture the next generation of Māori hockey stars is an honour and one I won’t take lightly. With an eye for clinical attacking hockey and a clear and honest vision of success and I’m sure these young Tāne will be able to deliver on and off the pitch under the guidance of myself. I am looking forward to seeing the development over the coming months to push towards success at the 2025 Heritage Tournament.” – Sam Hewett
