The following autobiography presents the key history that contributed to the formation of the Sporting Edge Programs and our Trust.

 

Born in Rotorua in 1963, this ex Dairy Farmer/Publican - East Coast Maori, has lived in Pakuranga West since 2001. Shelley and he have been happily married since 1992 and have two sons, Joseph (1993) and Stevie (1997).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2002 Tu Edwards starting assisting the local primary school by coaching his son's Rugby and Softball Teams as well as assisting with their struggling Kapahaka group. A lack of male teachers or available Dad's, meant that his son’s sports teams would either not participate or under-perform, without some assistance. The Sales job Tu had at the time allowed him time to assist the schools Rugby, Softball and Kapahaka programs from 2002 till 2006.

 

“When I initially started coaching, it was seen as a great way to connect with my son’s and their friends, and to help teach them a few life skills while enjoying sports. It also helped the schools, who were often short of knowledge in these areas and even shorter of Male role models with in the school”.

 

In 2005 Tu followed his eldest boy to Pakuranga Intermediate and sowed into this environment by running their rugby program. “At the end of the season I was encouraged by the Principal of Pakuranga Intermediate to change my career in pursuit of an involvement in the Education / Coaching arena”.

 

At the beginning of 2006 Tu took on the job of being one of two local Truancy Officers for all 38 Schools in the Howick / Pakuranga area. “ This was perfect for me to get a very hands-on understanding of the real issues marginal students and their families are faced with."

 

The very nature of our community presents issues from very diverse demographic and socio groups. From Otara to Howick, Glen Innes to Beachlands. The hours were also flexible enough to continue coaching with view to having an impact on two schools struggling with truancy in the area. Pakuranga Intermediate and Edgewater College.

 

2007 Tu again followed Joseph to his new school at Edgewater College. As well being the local truancy officer Tu was also coaching Rugby, Touch, Volleyball at the College, Intermediate and local Primary. This was also the year that he formally ran Life Skills in Sport (Sporting Edge) Program. 

 

As part of this process, Tu enrolled in an Inner Fitness Coaching Program with Quantum Sport. “Quantum has provided me with many in-sights as to how I could best coach my sons and their mates the life skills development such as character and values. It was great to learn new information at 6.30am in the morning that you could immediately apply to a real situation by lunchtime that day for three years"

 

The following year Tu added to his list of learnings... Level Two Rugby Coaching Certificate and a qualified Parent Inc Toolbox Facilitator. 2008 also saw the Sporting Edge Program evolve, as more emphasis was placed on life skill development and a girls team was added. Tu also developed a leadership program for the 1st XV Rugby team and kapahaka groups at Edgewater College. 

 

These upgrades had a dramatic effect on truancy figures in the two schools

as well as improving the level of effective leadership both on and off the

sports field and around the schools. 

 

 

2009 was our breakout year with enough data to now put behind the program. between 2007 and 2009...

• Pakuranga Intermediate Rugby Program with 86 Students, all three teams (boys open, un55kgs and girls made the top 6 in the Auckland Wide Championship, while the truancy rate of the players was reduced by 68% and a similar reduction in visits to the principal's office for discipline purposes. Five Boys making representative teams and two of them gaining sports scholarships to elite schools.

• Edgewater College experience similar success… From no Rugby at the beginning of 2007 to a Junior Team that made top four and a 1st XV that won their competition. 5 Rep players and only one yellow card over 30 games for the season between the two teams. More impressive though was the reduction of Truancy and Detentions within the squad of 49 players by 53%. 

• Edgewater College Kapahaka Roopu also went from non-existent in 2007 to winning 2nd division at the renowned Polynesian Festival in 2009.

• “All of the above achievements could not have happened if it was not for a strong committed Leadership Group in each team setting the Character and Values needed to achieve.”

 

Further success convinced Coach Tu to take up part time employment in 2011 with Edgewater College as their life skills coach responsible for leadership development, behavioural modification and their whanau/house program as well as continuing to oversee the Rugby program. This enabled him to invest any spare time he had to developing Sporting Edge Programs and one of his key tool “My Notebook”. 

 

In 2013, a number of key supporters encouraged Coach Tu to initiate Sporting Edge Trust so we could develop and deliver the Sporting Edge Programs to the wider community full time...

 

“It has taken me a while but I have finally found my purpose and am extremely thankful to the trust for enabling me to do what I am gifted to do... to mend damaged hearts and help build healthy bridges to a positive meaningful future for our youth.”

 

 (Link to You tube clip of SET launch presentation)