Welcome to the latest update from Sport NZ bringing you news on the work of individuals and organisations from across the sector.

Again we find ourselves in a national COVID-19 lockdown and even though we have been here before, there are always new challenges to deal with and respond to. On that note, those south of Auckland move to Alert Level 3 at 11.59pm tonight. We are currently interpreting the new level 3 requirements and will revert as quickly as possible with confirmed guidance for the sector.

Our thanks to everyone in working through these unnatural circumstances and juggling different priorities as we attempt to find ways to keep our nation moving. The Sport NZ team has been working hard to ensure we get appropriate advice and support out to the sector as soon as we can via the COVID-19 Sector Updates. A response inbox has also been set up if you or colleagues have any questions we can assist with answering. You can email covid19response@sportnz.org.nz.

The light amongst all of this has been the opportunity to watch our Paralympians in action in Tokyo. There have been some extraordinary performances already and I look forward to what this week will bring. It is truly the definition of inspiration. Again, I would like to acknowledge the incredible work that has gone into preparing our athletes for the Games and getting them safely to Tokyo.

Tū te ihi, tū te wehi, tū te wana – keep fighting the good fight.
 
Raelene

Balance is Better webinar: Athlete traps and parenting hacks

A webinar for parents, coaches and administrators is taking place Tuesday 31 August from 7.00pm. In an age where sport is highly competitive and commercialised at the top level, it is unsurprising that doping (and associated behaviours)  have infiltrated adolescent sport. As such, parents have an important role in supporting young athletes to avoid some of the pitfalls associated with this behaviour – but how?  
  
Join Sport NZ and special guest, Dr. Sian Clancy for this wide-ranging discussion on clean sport parenting. Dr. Clancy is the General Manager of Athlete Services at Drug Free Sport NZ, where she leads the organisation’s education team.

Tuesday 31 August 2021, 7.00-8.00pm (NZST). Sign up here.

Active Recreation for Rangatahi Plan

Sport NZ cares deeply about creating better outcomes for rangatahi in Aotearoa and the role active recreation can have in their development and wellbeing.

To drive outcomes and coordinate effort towards this, Sport NZ have developed the Active Recreation for Rangatahi Plan 2021-2024. This plan outlines Sport NZ’s commitments to active recreation for rangatahi and will guide our mahi for the next three years. Read the plan.

Season transition promotion and webinar series

For the second year running, COVID-19 has disrupted the sport season in New Zealand. We had planned to share messaging and resources for a four-week period as part of the #seasonready promotion to support the change from winter to summer, however will hold off for now. We’ll share the revised dates and plans once we know more about the impact of COVID-19 alert levels.

In saying this, it’s still a great time to consider how you can keep playing your part to keep creating great experiences in sport for all young people. Join our series of Balance is Better webinars to hear from experts on coaching, parenting, and creating a safe environment throughout September and early October. Find out more information and register here.

Community Spotlight: Unstructured play at nature school builds children’s confidence and skills

Into Nature School founders Amy Lake and Hillary Paalvast dreamed of a school in the native bush where children could run free, be inspired to create, explore, and play. What drove them was a desire to address the sensory issues they were seeing in primary and intermediate aged children.

Located at Karamu in the Waikato, the 'one day each week' programme is for primary and intermediate aged children, and is all about maximising a child's social, emotional and developmental potential.

Hoping to increase accessibility to children who might benefit from the programme, the school applied for Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa funding. Find out more about the programme that sees children developing improved self-management skills, building individual confidence, resilience, and physical movement skills through play.

Read more.

Governance in a pandemic

As boards adjust to the national COVID-19 Alert Level shifts, the following resources remain relevant. While the articles highlight key responsibilities of a board as they relate to governing in a pandemic, they can equally be used as a useful review and reset for any board going through challenges and change.

Read the Board of Directors COVID-19 Checklist

Read more on Chairing remote board meetings

Read more on complying with relevant statutory obligations

Golf NZ - Our Ambition for Women and Girls

Congratulations to Golf NZ who have announced their sector wide ambition for women and girls. Their ambition, to ensure women and girls are welcomed, valued, and thriving in golf, is a continuation of work over recent years to break down barriers and strengthen female participation in their sport. Read more on the full ambition and approach here.

IWG World Conference 2022 – Registrations now open

Early bird registrations are now open for the 8th IWG World Conference on Women and Sport, the world’s largest gathering to advance gender equity and equality in sport and physical activity. For the first time in its 25-year history, the 8th IWG World Conference on Women and Sport will be delivered virtually and in-person. It will take place live in Auckland, and simultaneously online from 5-8 May 2022.

An ‘Inspire Pass’ can be purchased, which will offer an outstanding virtual experience accessible from almost anywhere in the world, or the ‘InspirePLUS Pass’, which will give participants access to a hybrid in-person and virtual experience for those joining live in Auckland. Don’t worry if you don’t know if you can travel yet, you can purchase and switch at any time. Register now.

Update your contacts for ISPS Handa Halberg Awards

If you would like to make sure you receive information and detail on the upcoming deadlines for nominations of the ISPS Handa Halberg Awards, please send your details and contact information to the Halberg Foundation at the following address: awards@halberg.co.nz

Planning is currently underway for the 59^th ISPS Handa Halberg Awards ceremony to be held in early 2022.