International Women’s Day on March 3 is a timely reminder that girls can do anything – and Te Mata School senior teacher Kathy Briant is living proof.
“When I was a young girl growing up in the late 70s, all I wanted to do was skateboard and play rugby,” Kathy says. “But girls back then were pushed into more traditional hobbies and sports.”
Desperate to wear rugby boots, Kathy found a workaround. “I started playing hockey in 1980 because it was played on grass back then,” she laughs.
Despite the limitations she felt as a young woman, Kathy went on to achieve impressive success in hockey. She played for North Harbour for 10 years and was selected for the New Zealand senior squad – something she says young women today are far more likely to believe is possible thanks to the many female role models now visible in sport.
Still, the journey wasn’t without its challenges. “I didn’t have the mental capacity to deal with getting dropped from teams, so I quit,” Kathy says. “It’s a regret of mine because I never fulfilled my dream of becoming an Olympian. I had the ability – I just didn’t have the mental strength at the time.”
Although her hockey career came to an end, Kathy eventually fulfilled her childhood dream of playing rugby. “I played number eight for the Navy for three years,” she says proudly.
A move nearly 14 years ago from Auckland’s North Shore to Whāingaroa Raglan with her partner Lynne and their daughter Poppy opened the door to yet another sporting challenge – surfing.
“I started learning to surf at 50. I’m still on my airplane wing, this massive nine-foot soft top. I’m useless, but I can stand up, ride a green wave, and now I’ve got the courage to go out by myself,” she laughs.
As well as switching to a new sport when she moved to Raglan, Kathy also had to adjust to life at a small country school and teaching younger students.
“I remember sitting on the deck at Te Mata when I first started and seeing hunting and fishing gear and Redbands for the first time,” she laughs. “The school seemed so small and I thought, ‘Oh my god, what have I done?’”
It turned out to be one of the best decisions of her life.
Kathy is proud of the role she has played in growing the school’s senior class. “When I first started at Te Mata, there were hardly any Year 8s – many chose to go to Hamilton,” she says. “This year I have 24 Year 8s, when one year I only had two.”
By promoting sport, leadership and school pride, Kathy has helped make staying at Te Mata something to aspire to. Senior students wear their Te Mata hoodies (introduced by Kathy) with pride – a symbol of leadership and belonging.
“Our local schools are at the heart of the community, and supporting them strengthens not just learning outcomes, but the relationships between schools, whānau, and the wider community.”
Now, after more than a decade teaching at Te Mata, Kathy loves seeing her former students working around town.
“I just feel so connected, and that’s really massive for me,” she says. “It took me a while – you know how they always talk about being local, like you’ve got to be here for 100 years.”
As Te Mata School continues to grow, Kathy’s passion for sport, confidence and resilience are shaping the next generation – proving that strong role models can make all the difference.
by Janine Jackson
