Latest news with #SportIntegrityCommission
RNZ News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Sport Integrity Commission fields hundreds of complaints in first year
Photo: timhester/123RF New Zealand's independent sports watchdog has fielded hundreds of complaints in its first year, many about bullying and abuse. The Sport Integrity Commission was established in July 2024, after a decade of damning reviews exposed serious gaps in how high performance sport addressed athlete welfare and integrity concerns. Among the commission's core roles is providing impartial resolution of complaints and disputes. The agency also has the power to investigate sports bodies in cases of "complex or systemic threats to integrity". According to figures released under the Official Information Act, the commission received 283 complaints in the year to 30 June 2025, across 70 sports and recreation organisations. Of those, 73 complaints remain active, while 210 have been resolved. In 45 cases, the issues raised were found to fall outside the commission's scope. Te Kahu Raunui chief executive Rebecca Rolls told RNZ the volume of complaints was slightly higher than early predictions. "When we were trying to figure out what we needed to build inhouse, we had to do a bit of modelling," Rolls said. "Some of that was based on the numbers that the [Sport and Recreation Complaints and Mediation Service], which was funded by Sport NZ, had been receiving. "Then we had to factor in our legislation and how that affected scope, so I guess [the increase] is not unexpected. The numbers continue to rise gradually, but we're not seeing a steep climb." The most commonly reported threats to integrity were matters that fall under section 5(d) of the Integrity Sport and Recreation Act 2023, including abuse, bullying, harassment, intimidation, violence and sexual misconduct. "I think what that means is that people are having poor experiences based on other people's behaviour, which is disappointing," Rolls said. "However, it doesn't surprise us that that's where most of them sit, as that section of our legislation does cover off quite a broad set of behaviours and there's a lot of things that fall under that definition." Sport Integrity Commission chief executive Rebecca Rolls is a former cricket and football international. Photo: Supplied The commission declined to name which sports bodies had drawn the most complaints or even identify the highest number of complaints any one organisation had received, but its data showed 97 - or 33 per cent - related to elite-level sport. Rolls said this also represented an increase on early modelling. "Looking at the numbers previously, it was around one quarter elite sport, and three quarters at the community or grassroots end, so that is a bit of a shift. It is probably too early to say if that's a part of a bigger statistical trend or just where things have landed in the first year." The agency also declined to provide information on how complaints had led to a formal investigation being launched, citing a requirement to "protect information, which is subject to an obligation of confidence". However, at least one major inquiry is underway. As first reported by RNZ, the commission launched an investigation into Yachting NZ late last year , after a raft of cultural, athlete welfare and conduct complaints . That probe - initiated under section 32 of the act - is considered the first high-profile test of the agency's powers and is being closely watched across the sector. A former football and cricket international, Rolls said the public spotlight had not changed how her agency approached its work. "I think we would feel the same amount of pressure to get something resolved, whether it was in the media or not," she said. "I think, for any [sports] organisation, we have to be really mindful of what it means for them to be going through a process, whether it's one that's happening now or one that happens in the future - that's an important consideration for us." She declined to comment on the current status of the Yachting NZ investigation. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
1News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- 1News
Co-ed principals fight 'unethical' boys school-only rugby competition
A group of South Island principals is rallying against what it claims are "discriminatory and unlawful" plans for a breakaway first XV rugby competition played exclusively among boys' schools. A collective of South Island boys' schools last month confirmed talks were underway to launch a new first XV competition as part of wider collaborative efforts to improve educational outcomes for young men. The new competition would include up to eight boys' schools across Canterbury and Tasman, and five schools in Otago and Southland. The move has been met with widespread concern from leaders of co-educational schools in those regions, who fear the "devastating" impact on their school communities if top-flight rugby were restricted to a select group of schools. A highly organised resistance began in earnest on Wednesday, when a letter signed by principals of more than 40 schools was sent to the South Island provincial rugby unions and NZ Rugby urging the sport's leaders to act. RNZ understands a separate, individual complaint has also been laid with the Sport Integrity Commission. The letter to the rugby bodies called on officials to step in and "help intervene in what would become a highly destructive competition" for both the sport, the wider education system and young people. "Excluding boys in co-educational schools from top-level rugby against boys-only schools would undermine the inclusivity, competitiveness, and health of school rugby, harming the sport's future and the well-being of its players," the letter states. The letter also raised concerns that the proposal "is driven by the desire to attract the best athletes to the boys' schools for their own success", creating an "arms race where schools aggressively recruit top players". The morning's headlines in 90 seconds including what will happen to food after supermarket blaze, Trump's dithering over the Middle East, and winter car care tips. (Source: 1News) One of the signatories to the letter, Darfield High School principal Andy England, said he believed the proposal was "unjustified and discriminatory". "I think this move, if it was to happen, would be deeply unethical, potentially in breach of human rights, and the education and training act. Which are strong words to say, and I get that. But I'm saying them," England told RNZ. Asked if the schools would consider laying a complaint with the Human Rights Commission or the Ministry of Education, England responded: "Yes." "At the end of the day, it just seems deeply unfair that boys who go to school with girls are excluded from playing the sport at the level that suits them. How can that be right under the Human Rights Act or under the Education and Training Act?" The Education and Training Act 2020 requires schools to ensure a safe and inclusive environment and to eliminate discrimination, which extends to sports participation. England said his main frustration was that there had been "very limited communication from the boys' schools" about why they wanted to form a breakaway competition and how it would work. Rugby officials needed to show leadership and get all the schools around the table "in a reasonably assertive way", so they can work on a solution together. "I think we're all looking for some guidance from [the] rugby union. My speciality isn't rugby at all, but I can't see how this could be good for rugby. It's inevitable that some rugby talent will be lost through this if this goes ahead," he said. "It also puts rugby development at the top level into the hands of the boys schools only, and how can that be healthy?" The letter claims the collective of boys' schools plan to launch the new competition for 2026 on August 1. However, two principals involved told RNZ there are no firm plans or commitments in place. Steve Hart, principal of St Thomas of Canterbury College, said he was aware of opposition to the proposed new competition, but he did not think it was appropriate to address those criticisms through the media. "Until there is something concrete to discuss, I don't know how healthy the back and forward actually is," he said. "Probably for me I think there's been an over-focus on rugby here, that's actually a tiny bit of what we're trying to do. It probably sums up New Zealand a wee bit in that we focus too much on rugby and people are missing the point on what the actual vision here is." Hart referred RNZ to the statement provided to media at the time the plans for the breakaway competition were first raised, which noted the collective's aims of "exploring initiatives that include the arts, culture, sport and professional learning - designed to foster connection, belonging and pride among our young men". Canterbury Rugby chief executive Tony Smail said his organisation shared some of the concerns of the co-ed schools about the proposed competition. "The unintended and intended consequences of a standalone competition among boys' schools needs to be talked about. There is genuine concern that pathways are being closed for other rugby playing participants out there," he said. "You'll have player movement out of the schools that aren't in the competition into the schools that are, and the flow on effect of that is huge. If you have one or two strong players from one school decide to leave, the risk is that their peers that are left at that school will give up, because they were staying in the game to play with their mates." While the union sits on the governance group of the current first XV competition, which involves schools in the Crusaders' catchment area, it is not in charge of running schoolboy rugby. However, Smail acknowledged Canterbury Rugby has a duty to work through the issues with all schools. He said he hopes to get the principals together in the coming weeks. "We'd obviously love to find a way to break through and understand what those problem areas are that require the boys' schools to head off and see if there's another alternative that we can explore together," said Smail. "What we've had among the schools are some pretty brave conversations at times, and I think this is another example where we have to get together, hear out all sides and see if there's another way through." NZ Rugby's general manager of community rugby Steve Lancaster said while the national body does not control the governance or delivery of the secondary school competitions, it does have an interest in the potential implications the proposed breakaway competition may have on "participation, equity and the schools that are excluded". "We know many stakeholders look to NZR for resolution of such issues; however, we do not have authority over school competitions that are organised outside of Provincial Union administration. That said, we remain committed to advocating for inclusive, competitive, and accessible rugby pathways for all young people, regardless of the type of school they attend." A spokesperson for the Sport Integrity Commission said the organisation could not confirm the existence or otherwise of any complaints before the organisation.
RNZ News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Sport Integrity Commission joins chorus of condemnation of Enhanced Games
Photo: AFP / Tek Image/Science Photo Library The Enhanced Games are exploiting athletes and putting their health and careers at risk, says the Sport Integrity Commission. The Enhanced Games where athletes can using substances banned in official competition announced earlier this week they will have their inaugural competition in Las Vegas, in May next year and will include swimming, athletics and weightlifting. Australian businessman Aaron D'Souza is behind the Games and believes athletes should be able to do what they wish with their own bodies and is touting it as the 'Olympics of the future', allowing athletes to take drugs in a bid to break 'world records'. Organisers maintain they will protect athletes while using technology and science to enhance their strength and speed, unlocking a new level of "superhuman" performances. The Sport Integrity Commission, which is responsible for anti-doping in New Zealand, has joined a chorus of international condemnation of the Games. Chair Don McKinnon said the Games promote "a dangerous sporting event that jeopardises athlete health and safety while fundamentally eroding the core values of fair play and integrity. There will be no drug rules for the Enhanced Games. Photo: AFP / Tek Image/Science Photo Library "The Enhanced Games exploits athletes by putting their health and careers at risk for the sake of purported entertainment and financial gain. Doping in sport is never acceptable and we condemn any activities that undermine the safety and fairness of sport. "We join WADA and other anti-doping and sporting bodies around the world in standing for clean sport, athlete health, and the integrity of international competition," said McKinnon. The Commission believes New Zealand athletes and athletes around the world should be able to compete with the confidence that their competitors are clean and that those who choose to engage in doping will be caught and subject to appropriate sanctions. The Enhanced Games is backed by a venture capital fund which includes billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel and was initially launched as a concept in 2023, when it was presented as an opportunity to beat world records for cash prizes up to $US1 million. World Athletics president Lord Coe has said taking part would be "moronic", and any competitor would face a lengthy ban. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
