Kia ora koutou,

Well, what a year it’s been – there’s plenty to reflect on as 2023 comes to a close, across a year that featured lows such as the severe weather events that impacted several regions around the motu and highs including an epic FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The common theme throughout these busy 12 months was the resilience of our sector and the collaboration and positive mahi we see across it, day in and day out, as we work towards a shared goal of keeping our communities healthy, happy, and active.

Of many highlights from this year, the FIFA Women’s World Cup – the biggest ever sporting event held in Aotearoa – stands out without a doubt. And it wasn’t just about the opportunity to see some of the world’s best football talent on our shores, and seeing New Zealanders unite to show an immense amount of support. The World Cup showed the benefits – social and economic – of hosting major sports events in New Zealand, and the increased visibility of women’s sport will be just one of the many legacies the tournament leaves behind.

I wanted to follow up on my update from last month around the new Government and what it means for our sector. I was able to meet with the new Minister for Sport and Recreation, the Hon Chris Bishop, before Christmas to brief him on our sector and the constructive work we achieve together. He's excited to join us in our mahi and continue advocating for our sector. I’ll continue providing updates next year, as we build our relationship with him and find opportunities for him to engage more closely with you all.

There’s so much from this year to be proud of – I could dedicate an entire Sector Update to a collective shout out. Our refreshed strategy, which we’ll be sharing with you soon, is based on shared outcomes, most of which can’t happen without the work you lead across Aotearoa New Zealand. I hope you all have the chance to rest and connect with friends and whānau over the holiday period, and once again, thank you for everything that you do.

We’ll see you in 2024!

Ngā mihi, 
Raelene

LATEST NEWS

Sport NZ closedown dates 

A reminder that Sport NZ offices will be closed over the holiday period. Our last day for the year will be Wednesday 20 December, 2023. We will be back on board from Monday 8 January, 2024. 

Our kaimahi look forward to recharging over the break so they’re refreshed and ready to support you in the new year! 

Manu Season is open! 

The World Manu Champs are on the horizon, with chances for the whole family to get involved and have some fun. 

Through a series of ‘qualifiers’ across the motu, many a manu will be performed over summer, with just one person named the World Champion in March. Wellington will play host to the first qualifying event, ahead of a final in Tāmaki Makaurau on March 3. 

Push Play is a proud sponsor of this fun summer event, so watch this space as we gear up for the competition to kick off in January. We’ll be running free Push Play sessions where anyone can give the manu a go, be active, and have fun, in a safe and non-competitive environment.   

And if the thought of entering this fun competition has got you daydreaming about making a splash, rally your colleagues, friends, or whānau in entering this epic event.

New report: It’s My Move campaign is shifting attitudes

Our latest progress report on the It’s My Move campaign is out now. Led by Sport NZ, in collaboration with the sector, the campaign supports young women to get and stay active their way. It’s a key initiative in Sport NZ’s Women and Girls Action Plan. This report outlines what we set out to achieve through the campaign, the results to date, as well as where we’re heading next. 

We know that teenage girls spend less time per week being active than teenage boys – factors like time pressure, fear of judgement and lack of confidence often get in the way. So it’s very exciting to see in this report that It’s My Move is shifting attitudes that encourage young women to be more physically active. This is thanks to the leadership and support of Sport NZ partners and sector providers, who have leveraged the campaign for their own initiatives and events to empower young women in their communities.

Read more in the report and join the movement.

An update on Incorporated Societies Act re-registration

Sport NZ has received the final draft regional and club constitution templates, guidance notes, and checklists from our legal advisors. They will be released early in the new year along with the tutorial for the national template.

We’re taking some extra time to ensure they are fit for purpose and organisational size, and that the national, regional, and club constitutions are linked correctly.

Sport NZ continues to recommend a phased approach for federated sports, i.e. national first, then regions, and then a focus on supporting clubs. Given the amount of time available to re-register, we anticipate opportunities to align constitutions to the Code of Integrity for Sport and Recreation at the same time.

Staying connected across codes and with Sport NZ and the regional sports trusts will be the key to successful re-registration with modern fit-for-purpose constitutions.
 

An update on the Code of Integrity for Sport and Recreation 

The Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission will be operational on 1 July 2024, and is expected to issue the Code of Integrity for Sport and Recreation soon after that.  

As you may be aware, the Code will be a key tool for enhancing integrity in sport and recreation. It will aim to increase safety and fairness in sport and recreation by setting consistent standards to prevent and address threats to integrity - including what is expected of participants and sport and recreation organisations.  

The Integrity Transition Programme (ITP) has engaged broadly with sector participants, the public, and relevant stakeholders to help ensure the Code is informed by a wide range of views and perspectives. Summaries and reports of these can be found here: Consultation and engagement - Integrity Transition Programme.  

A draft version of the Code will be shared with sector organisations and the public for feedback in the second quarter of 2024. This ‘exposure draft’ version of the Code will be accompanied by a discussion document that will provide additional context and assist with the feedback process. 

Until then, if you have any questions or comments, please contact the ITP team at enquiries@integritytransition.org.nz.
 

Rainbow resources for community sport and physical activity 

Resources supporting the sector to provide more inclusive opportunities for rainbow communities are now available on Sport Tutor and the Sport NZ website. These resources are a continuation of the work done to date in supporting the sector, including the guiding principles for the inclusion of transgender people in community sport (released in December 2022).  

Developed in partnership with InsideOUT Kōaro, the educational resources include a three-part e-learning module, fact sheets on rainbow awareness and inclusion, and an animated video highlighting the experiences of trans rangatahi.  Made for anyone supporting young people to be active, the resources provide guidance on key concepts and correct use of language, so that everyone can increase their understanding and create a more inclusive environment for all. 

A big thank you to the working group that’s been involved right from the creation of the guiding principles, who helped identify the best ways to support the sector with including rainbow communities. The group included sector representatives from NZ Rugby, NZ Cricket, NZ Football, NZ Netball, Golf NZ, Swimming NZ, School Sport NZ, Waka Ama NZ, and Aktive. Their help and expertise made this work possible. 

While the focus of these resources is community sport, the content is relevant to all forms of physical activity and for anyone supporting people to be active. Check out the resources on the Sport NZ website and feel free to share with your wider networks, clubs, and communities.  

You can access the e-module on Sport Tutor. The courses are fully self-service, and you can learn at your own pace. If you are interested in other options for rolling out these courses to your kaimahi, please email sporttutor@sportnz.org.nz.