Sport New Zealand (Sport NZ) (Māori: Ihi Aotearoa) is a New Zealand Crown entity responsible for governing sport and recreation in New Zealand.

Sport New Zealand
Agency overview
JurisdictionNew Zealand
Headquarters29 Brandon Street, Wellington, New Zealand
41°17′00″S 174°46′34″E / 41.2834°S 174.776°E / -41.2834; 174.776
Minister responsible
Agency executive
Websitewww.sportnz.org.nz

Sport NZ believes sport is an integral part of New Zealand's culture and way of life. The organisation believes whether New Zealanders are playing, coaching, refereeing, volunteering, managing or supporting – the power of sport helps bind communities and the nation together. The organisation also believes sport enriches the economy, improves wellbeing, helps children’s bodies and minds develop, and it makes people more resilient as communities and individuals.[1]

With this in mind, Sport NZ’s vision is to ensure that all New Zealanders have access to sport wherever they live, whoever they are and whatever their ability. The organisation’s wants to see more kids and more adults in sport and recreation, and more winners on the world stage through their subsidiary High Performance Sport New Zealand, which deals with elite athletes.

Sport New Zealand (Sport NZ) is committed to the vision of enabling everyone, every day, to engage in and excel through sport and recreational activities. The organization's mission focuses on cultivating an environment in the field of sports and recreation where increased participation, support, and success among New Zealanders are prominent. To realize these objectives, Sport NZ assumes a leading role, guiding various sports organizations and continually advocating for enhancement within the sports and recreation sector. Integral to their approach is the support they offer to partners, including national and regional sports organizations and regional sports trusts. This support is aimed at empowering these entities to achieve their maximum potential, ultimately benefiting all New Zealanders.

Legislation and functions edit

The principal governing legislation of Sport NZ is the Sport and Recreation New Zealand Act 2002. As a Crown entity, it is responsible to the Minister of Sport and Recreation via its board of directors.

Section 8 of the Act sets out the functions of Sport New Zealand as the following:[2]

  • Develop and implement national policies and strategies for physical recreation and sport
  • Allocate funds to organisations and regional bodies in line with its policies and strategies
  • Promote and advocate the importance of participation in physical activity by all New Zealanders for their health and well-being
  • Promote and disseminate research relevant to physical recreation and sport
  • Provide advice to the Minister on issues relating to physical recreation and sport
  • Promote and support the development and implementation of physical recreation and sport in a way that is culturally appropriate to Māori
  • Encourage participation in physical recreation and sport by Pacific peoples, women, older New Zealanders, and people with disabilities
  • Recognise the role of physical recreation and sport in the rehabilitation of people with disabilities
  • Facilitate the resolution of disputes between persons or organisations involved in physical recreation and sport
  • Work with schools, regional, central, and local government, and physical recreation and sports organisations to ensure the maintenance and development of the physical and organisational infrastructure for physical recreation and sport
  • Work with health, education, and other agencies to promote greater participation in physical recreation and sport through policy development, advocacy, and support, in line with the objectives of the New Zealand health strategy
  • Provide advice and support for organisations working in physical recreation and sport at national, regional, and local levels
  • Facilitate co-ordination between national, regional, and local physical recreation and sport organisations
  • Represent the Government’s policy interests in physical recreation and sport internationally.

High Performance Sport New Zealand edit

High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) is the subsidiary of Sport New Zealand responsible for governing New Zealand's high performance sport programme. It was formed in 2011 following the merger of Sport New Zealand's high performance unit with the country's two academies of sport.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Who we are and what we do". Sport New Zealand. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012.
  2. ^ "Sport and Recreation New Zealand Act 2002 (as at 1 July 2013)". Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 20 August 2016.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ McCully, Murray (19 July 2011). "Reshaping high performance sport". New Zealand Government. Retrieved 1 October 2016.

External links edit