Figure 6: Regional Groups

Regional Trusts will:
• Lead the development of strategies to increase participation in recreation and sport in their regions by working with the groups in Figure 6.

• Support recreation and sport organisations to improve leadership, management and delivery of regional programmes and initiatives.

• Support and develop regional recreation and sport organisations to:
  • improve their infrastructure (administration and planning)
  • recruit, train and retain instructors, coaches, officials and volunteers and recognise their special status
  • liaise appropriately with local government
  • recognise the needs and aspirations of minority cultures and groups with special needs
  • support the work of national governing bodies regionally
  • work closely with other regional organisations and share facilities and operations
  • support the smooth transition of pupils from school to club involvement
  • liaise appropriately with post-secondary school institutions
  • in sport, cooperate with their closest New Zealand Academy of Sport site in areas of shared interest
  • in recreation, secure and retain access to, and use of, the outdoor environment

• Work closely with Maori to promote the coordination of local recreation and sport and the health benefits of physical activity.

• Work closely with Regional Councils and local government to ensure coordinated approaches to recreation and sport.

• Coordinate regional delivery of the physical activity components of the New Zealand Health Strategy, under contract to the respective District Health Boards, if this responsibility has been delegated from the Ministry of Health to the District Health Boards. This must be in partnership with other public health community agencies.

• Broker access to regional and local funding to increase the ability of community partners to meet identified and agreed needs of each region.

• Lead the integration of recreation and sport organisations into common locations with shared facilities and resources.

• Recognise and encourage the development of volunteers and volunteer skills.

• Be the regional knowledge-treasury for recreation and sport.

Active New Zealand's relationship with Regional Trusts will involve:

• Close liaison and regular meetings.

• An emphasis on regional trusts providing leadership, strategy development, relationship building, effective support for robust regional and local delivery structures.

• Sharing best practices.

• The implementation of a core funding framework that is measurable and accountable. Evaluation criteria must focus on outcomes and involve the following key categories: vision, excellence, coaching, regional development, participation development and management practices.

• Negotiation of annual funding allocations based on clear strategic plans.

Regional Alignments

Active New Zealand and the Regional Trusts must rationalise the number of Trust regions. Any change must ensure all geographic areas are served and encourage alliances to ensure resource use is maximised. Regions must be supported through a contract with Active New Zealand for each region's core work. A maximum of ten contracts shall exist. The Taskforce notes that this approach will involve multiple Trusts in some regions. The proposed rationalisation mirrors the Taskforce recommendations on regional recreation and sport boundaries.

A proposed regional structure is:

Region	Regional recreation and sport strategy in 1999-00 led by
Northland	Sport Northland
Auckland	Sport North Harbour, Sport Auckland, Sport Waitakere, Sport Counties-Manukau
Waikato	Sport Waikato
Bay of Plenty	Sport Bay of Plenty
Eastland & Hawkes Bay	Sport Eastland, Sport Hawkes Bay
Central Districts	Sport Taranaki, Sport Wanganui, Sport Manawatu
Wellington	Sport Wellington
Tasman	Sport Tasman
Canterbury	Sport Canterbury/Westland
Otago & Southland	Sport Otago, Sport Southland