Badminton Cook Islands president Thomas Mereana-Ngauru has been crowned winner of Serve-ing Pacific, Badminton Oceania’s new volunteer recognition programme.

Mereana-Ngauru is the serving president and has been for the past couple of years.

HIs efforts for badminton have been significant with a push to expand the sport further around the Cook Islands. So far three out of 15 remote islands have been covered, with room to expand even further.

“The most important thing about being a leader isn’t so much about the leading, it’s more about listening to those who are around you,” Mereana-Ngauru said.

Badminton in the Cook Islands has grown tremendously over the past four years despite the challenges of Covid-19. Highlights have included the ongoing annual primary school’s tournament (which always starts with a “Shuttle Time roadshow”), initiation of a mixed generations tournaments, ladies-only sessions and an increase in the Shuttle Time workforce to cater for the increased interest in the sport among children, their parents and wider community groups across the country.

If Mereana-Ngauru is not attending to badminton, he can be found helping his mother run the local Te Kainga O Pa Taunga Mental Health Centre and clinic.

Te Kainga provides health services to the wider community and delivery programmes to help their clients overcome mental health issues.

Mereana-Ngauru was nominated for his commitment to leadership, playing an instrumental role in the development of badminton across the country.

From the management of Badminton Cook Island, congratulations and all the best for the overall staycation prize.