Background
In recent years, there have been high-profile examples of integrity issues across a number of sporting codes. This has led to a series of reviews into the treatment and wellbeing of athletes and participants.
In 2020, Sport New Zealand established the Play, Active Recreation and Sport Integrity Working Group (IWG) to consider approaches for the future of Aotearoa New Zealand’s integrity landscape. After extensive research and stakeholder feedback, the IWG’s report concluded that that there was work to do to lift the overall standard of integrity in sport and recreation, and that this work was necessary to protect athletes and participants.
This led to an in-principle Cabinet decision, in June 2022, to set up a new integrity entity, and to the establishment of the Integrity Transition Programme, tasked with delivering the outcomes of the IWG review under the leadership of an independent Integrity Transition Committee.
Cabinet confirmed this decision in October 2022.
In March 2023, legislation was introduced to establish the new entity – the Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission. And in May 2023, the Minister for Sport and Recreation appointed members to the Sport and Recreation Establishment Board, replacing the Integrity Transition Committee.