How does sport and recreation respond to new forms of leisure? 

What are we seeing?  

• Digital technology has transformed leisure activities in New Zealand, with nearly two-thirds of Kiwis spending 2-4 hours daily online, primarily on social media, streaming video, and gaming.  Gen Z spend 6 hours per day online.  
• There's a shift towards online experiences as meaningful replacements for in-person interactions, especially among younger generations. 
• Traditional physical activities are increasingly mediated by technology, with smartphones and wearables enabling activity tracking. E-sports have grown in popularity, competing with traditional leisure activities for people's time. 

What can we expect?  

• Digital leisure will become more integrated into daily life, blurring work-life boundaries and transforming sport and entertainment through immersive technologies like AR, VR, and e-sports. 
• Personalised fitness solutions, memorable experiences enabled by the metaverse, and Web 3.0 will reshape consumer preferences and business models in the leisure industry.  
• While digital solutions will enhance customer engagement and experiences, the increase in online interactions will also raise concerns about online safety, data privacy, and cyberbullying. 

What might this mean for sport and recreation?  

• Digital technologies in fitness and wellness are challenging traditional sport and recreation, empowering individuals with data-driven approaches and potentially reducing reliance on conventional sport organisations. 
• E-sports' rise raises concerns about sedentary lifestyles but may also evolve to offer physical and mental health benefits, necessitating sport and recreation organisations to adapt and integrate digital strategies. 
• Wearable technology and gamification can revolutionise health monitoring and engagement in physical activities, while also creating hybrid physical-virtual experiences, though this raises concerns about data privacy. 

What questions should we be asking ourselves today?  

• How can we innovate our digital strategies to engage younger audiences, integrate emerging technologies, and enhance participant experiences? 
• What are the long-term impacts, opportunities, and risks of digital technologies on traditional sport and recreation? 
• How can we balance technological adoption with ethical considerations, privacy protections, and health concerns in an increasingly digital world? 

Read more on pages 25-28 of the Drivers of change report