Our purpose
Sport and recreation are important to people’s lives in Aotearoa New Zealand. We have some of the highest participation rates in the world, and a global reputation for fairness and integrity. At the same time, in recent years, integrity issues have come to light illustrating that more needs to be done to ensure that everyone can enjoy and expect safe and fair sport and recreation experiences. An independent Integrity Working Group (IWG) found that the existing integrity system, despite best efforts, has been unable to adequately address these issues.
In July 2022, the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Grant Robertson, announced that a new integrity entity would be created to strengthen and protect the integrity of the sport and recreation system in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Integrity Transition Programme was created to deliver this.
The objective of the Integrity Transition Programme is to establish the Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission, the proposed new integrity entity, and set it up to deliver a safer and fairer sport and recreation experience for all through a strengthened integrity system.
The Commission will be an independent Crown entity, entirely separate from Sport NZ and HPSNZ and all sport and recreation organisations.
The new system will be one that is strongly shaped by sector and participant voices.
This will include work towards a code of integrity for sport and recreation, and designing an approach to competition manipulation. Existing parts of the system that are working well will be retained and strengthened. Our work includes consultation and engagement with the sector and stakeholders, and in a way that upholds te Tiriti o Waitangi and its principles.