A Ngati Porou man with a long family history in rugby has been appointed chief executive of both the Wellington Rugby Union and the Hurricanes.
James Te Puni, who holds a senior marketing position at New Zealand Post, will be the first Maori to head a super rugby franchise.
He told Waatea News that the Wellington union is in a good financial position and he hopes a turn around in the Hurricanes' on-field performance is not far away.