79488

The Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui has announced that New Zealand’s first Code of Integrity for Sport and Recreation is now in force.

Intended to create safer and fairer environments in sport and recreation by setting consistent standards that benefit everyone, the Integrity Code is aimed at athletes, coaches, administrators, officials and volunteers.

Looking forward to working with the industry to prevent harm to participants and ensure competitions are fair, Commission Chief Executive, Rebecca Rolls, Commission Chief Executive stated “this is an exciting milestone for us at the Commission, but more importantly it’s a significant milestone for the sport and recreation community.

“We now have a tool in place that will lift standards at all levels - from community clubs and programmes through to elite sport - and create more positive experiences. Everyone involved in sport and recreation deserves to be safe from harm, and we are ready to support organisations to make positive changes.”

Sport and recreation leaders and organisations are also looking forward to seeing the Integrity Code adopted across their sector.

DJ Forbes, General Manager of the Athlete Leaders Network and former All Blacks Sevens captain, says the Integrity Code will have a positive impact for athletes, commenting “we’re focused on empowering and educating athlete leaders across many different sports to drive change in their own organisations.

“Athletes can face a lot of pressures, and having the Commission drive positive change at an organisational level, putting strong systems in place, aligns with us as we aim to improve athlete experiences from the bottom up.

“We want to level the playing field, and not all sports we work alongside have the same access to resources and support. We see the Integrity Code as a way to put more consistent safety measures in place and create a sector-wide layer of protection.”

Sarah Murray, Chief Executive of Recreation Aotearoa, part of the independent Integrity Transition Committee in 2022, noted “integrity is just as important in recreation settings as it is in formal sporting environments.

“Our young people participate in physical activity in a wide variety of ways. From mountain biking programmes to skate lessons to after-school youth development programmes, kids are out there doing all sorts of activities, supported by a wide range of organisations. It’s critical that they are safe and well cared for in all these spaces.

“We hope that all sport and recreation providers see the value in this approach and in embracing and adopting the Integrity Code, so that they can keep themselves and the young people in their care safe.”

The Integrity Code can be voluntarily adopted by sport and recreation organisations across the country, and the Commission wants to see organisations sign up because they recognise it is the right thing to do.

Commission Board Chair, Don Mackinnon went on to say “several reviews in recent years have highlighted the need to put fairness and participant safety at the core of how our sector operates, and the Integrity Code represents a crucial step forward toward achieving this.

“The Commission will be working to support organisations seeking to adopt by providing the resources, education and guidance they need to meet the minimum integrity standards.”

The Integrity Code minimum standards are designed to prevent unacceptable behaviour, including bullying, child abuse, sexual harm, discrimination and match-fixing.

Core obligations for sport and recreation organisations that adopt are set out as six minimum standards, they must:

• Prohibit the behaviours that are a threat to integrity 
• Proactively safeguard children, young people and adults at risk
• Implement an effective and fair dispute resolution process in relation to threats to integrity 
• Notify the Commission of issues of serious concern 
• Cooperate with the Commission in relation to dispute resolution, investigations, and monitoring activity, and 
• Provide information to members about the Integrity Code. 

In addition to policy templates, education resources, and helpful checklists, organisations bound by the Integrity Code will have access to more of the investigative and disciplinary functions the Commission can provide.

Click here to read the Code of Integrity for Sport and Recreation and supporting materials (including a guide to the adoption process). 

Image: Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui Chief Executive, Rebecca Rolls.

Related Articles

18th December 2024 - High Performance Sport New Zealand announces direct investment of more than $160 million

14th December 2024 - New appointments to the board of Sport New Zealand to promote physical activity

30th September 2024 - New Zealand Amateur Sport Association emphasises that community clubs are not companies

9th September 2024 - New Zealand Sport Minister congratulates Paralympians

20th March 2024 - Starlizard Integrity Services identifies 167 suspicious football matches in 2023

11th December 2023 - IOC highlights its efforts undertaken towards sport integrity

11th November 2023 - New Zealand Amateur Sport Association warns of ‘extinction event’ for community sport

2nd November 2023 - Sport New Zealand looks to promote ‘under threat’ childrens play

14th August 2023 - Drug Free Sport New Zealand launches ‘More fun when it’s Fair’ campaign 

26th June 2023 - Drug Free Sport New Zealand aims ‘to get doping out of sport’

9th May 2023 - $1 billion of community service in New Zealand sport in jeopardy

10th March 2023 - New Recreation Aotearoa Chief Executive set to start

22nd March 2022 - World Athletics President warns that transgender athletes pose risk to integrity of women’s sport

11th March 2021 - Amateur Sport Association calls on New Zealand Government to enable affordable access to community clubs

7th July 2020 - Funding released to assist New Zealand sport recovery at all levels

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

Click here to view our subscription options.