Our purpose
Sport and recreation is an important part of 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 a safe and fair sport and recreation experience. 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 Sport and Recreation Integrity Transition Programme was created to deliver this.
The Programme’s work includes establishing a new independent integrity entity, creating the basis for a national 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 will include consultation and engagement with the sector and stakeholders, and in a way that upholds te Tiriti o Waitangi and its principles.
The objective of the Transition Programme is to enable an environment, and support Integrity Sport and Recreation NZ, the proposed new integrity entity, to in the future deliver a safer and fairer sport and recreation experience for all through a strengthened integrity system. The new system will be one that is strongly shaped by sector and participant voices.