Part 7 cont'd.

7.2.3   Other Government Departments

The Taskforce identified a range of further initiatives which government departments can develop in partnership with Active New Zealand. The recommendations set out below are examples of initiatives that must be pursued.

The Taskforce recommends that:

• The Ministry of Maori Development (Te Puni Kokiri) should:
  • Work closely and in partnership with Active New Zealand to ensure that Maori participation in physical activity, recreation and sport is enhanced. The Taskforce supports Te Puni Kokiri's range of initiatives in physical activity but notes the need for programmes to be far more effectively implemented, resourced, and monitored in the best interests of Maori health and physical wellbeing. The Omangia Te Oma Roa programme is an example of well-intentioned rhetoric not being matched by effective collaboration, resourcing and action.

• The Ministry of Economic Development or Industry New Zealand should:
  • Establish a small working party to examine sport technology opportunities and develop innovative forms of sport technology that have potential for international markets. This group should meet with national sport bodies to understand areas of potential development and bring these bodies and potential manufacturers together. Examples of innovation could include equipment, protective gear, clothing and new sports.
  • Examine the possible development of information technology programmes for overseas sales. Examples could include virtual reality sports, coaching and instructional programmes, interactive documentaries and training schedule innovations.
  • Work closely with tertiary institutions and the Policy and Services Unit of Active New Zealand to explore possible revenue opportunities from applied recreation and sport research.
  • Fully examine the potential of events as significant contributors to economic development and the stimulation of both national and regional benefits. The Taskforce noted that currently New Zealand hosts and organises a range of events, which vary in scale, focus and audience. The events and sponsorship industry is an exciting and dynamic one that has evolved considerably over the last decade. Further potential exists to develop communities, regions and the nation along economic, sporting, social and cultural lines. Current coordination is ad hoc and often opportunities are not maximised. It is important that a cohesive events industry strategy and policy framework is developed that reflects a "whole of government" approach. This strategy would focus on coordinating investment in events and involve support from the Recreation and Sport, Trade, Culture and Heritage, and Tourism portfolios. The maintenance of a strategic overview for events, the partnering of private sector efforts and the recognition of the need for different approaches to mega-events and recurring events is essential and must not be dominated by one single government agency.

• Tourism New Zealand should develop:
  • An effective interagency relationship between Active New Zealand and the Tourism Board, or its agent(s) to examine and optimise the development of sport tourism and adventure tourism in New Zealand.
  • A "New Zealand Sport Map" for tourists and the general population that depicts historical achievements in recreation and sport, sport facilities, famous recreation and sport individuals' birth/death places, locations of sporting significance, and recreation areas.

• The Minister of Immigration should:
  • Ensure the employment of short-term contracting of elite overseas coaches is supported by the Immigration Service.

• The Department of Internal Affairs should:
  • Commission a history of New Zealand recreation and sport as a much-needed contribution to New Zealand historical writing. This publication should be comprehensive and an authoritative work of international standing.

• New Zealand On Air should:
  • Allocate funds to facilitate the provision of free-to-air television time for minor and non-professional sports.
  • Allocate funds for a multi-part television documentary on New Zealand sport, tracing its development, role, social setting and achievements to the present day. This documentary series should be characterised by in-depth research, engaging presentation, and high content quality.

• The Ministry of Transport should:
  • Actively pursue the development of accessible national cycle tracks, walkways and road linkages to walkways and abandoned railway lines with the aim of developing an integrated national network.

• Work and Income New Zealand should:
  • Develop a programme to use unemployed persons as volunteers in school recreation and sport without compromising benefit entitlement. This recognises the gaining of valuable social experience to assist the return to the workplace of unemployed people.
  • Revise benefit entitlements to include volunteer training in recreation and sport facilities.
  • Consider realignment of training opportunities for people re-entering the workforce and creating on-the-job training through the support of recreation and sport organisations.

• The Department of Corrections should:
  • Be required to examine their institutions and institutional programmes to ensure that all possible spaces and facilities for creating areas of recreation, sport and physical activity are utilised.
  • Ensure the provision of recreation, sport and physical activity programmes and courses of study are regularly reviewed in order to optimise the opportunity for inmates to participate.
  • Ensure that inmates are required to participate in regular and prescribed physical activity.

• The Minister of Local Government should:
  • Ensure the provision for and reinforcement of the importance of local level recreation and sport opportunities and facilities is highlighted in the review of the local government legislation. There is clear evidence from submissions received by the Taskforce that local government must play a role in the provision of facilities and programmes which enhance community wellbeing and social cohesion. Recreation and sport facilities and amenities are equally as important as the provision of traditional local government infrastructures for water, waste and roads. A more holistic view of local government functions is required to enshrine the principles of recreation and sport and enhanced community wellbeing. In doing so local government must ensure facilities are provided for social sport in diverse forms.

• Statistics New Zealand should:
  • Play a more significant role in obtaining and evaluating relevant information on New Zealanders' participation in, and attitudes towards, physical activity, recreation and sport.

• The Department of Child, Youth and Family Services should:
  • Recognise that positive self-development programmes utilising physical activity, recreation, sport or outdoor programmes have significant potential for youth at risk.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade or Trade New Zealand should:
  • Work with Active New Zealand and national sport organisations to develop a promotions strategy for New Zealand sports teams and athletes touring overseas and promote foreign investment in New Zealand recreation and sport.
  • Develop strategies with New Zealand companies to support international athletes who could promote their businesses overseas. New Zealand corporates based overseas should be encouraged to support New Zealand athletes overseas.

• The Ministry of Women's Affairs should:
  • Develop, with Active New Zealand, and in partnership with national women's organisations, a proactive, detailed and constructive policy on women's engagement with physical activity, recreation and sport. This programme fully developed with committed Ministry support, has the potential to shift the axis of women's health and participation in recreation and sport.
  • Examine participation rates of women in recreation and sport and the reasons that influence their participation. Perceived barriers to part-icipation could then be addressed. Analysis in this area of New Zealand women's lives by the Ministry of Women's Affairs should be enhanced.
  • Explore the provision of children's after school care in order to free mothers and guardians for voluntary recreation and sport participation.

• The Accident Compensation Corporation should:
  • Develop and implement with Active New Zealand a national injury prevention strategy with a strong education focus, to reduce injuries incurred through recreation and sport.

• The Ministry of Justice should:
  • Establish a Sports Disputes Tribunal which will: have a primary focus on national sport to assist National Sport Organisations to avoid lengthy and costly legal battles; ensure quality and consistent decision making for athletes in New Zealand sport; add credibility to the operation of elite sport in New Zealand and provide for appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

• The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs should:
  • Examine the participation of Pacific Island peoples in recreation and sport in order to enhance health through physical activity.
  • Develop with Active New Zealand a culturally appropriate programme to expand the physical activity of Pacific Island peoples, and monitor this programme to extend participation levels in their recreation and sport.
  • Develop with Active New Zealand an appropriate mentoring programme to support talented and elite Pacific Island athletes and coaches.

• The Ministry of Youth Affairs:
  • Should play a key role in implementing the Youth Forums recomm-ended in this report.
  • Must recognise its responsibility to young people's health and welfare by developing a clear policy that promotes, supports and implements physical activity through key partnerships with Active New Zealand, government agencies and national recreation and sport organisations.

• The Department of Labour should:
  • Support volunteers through incentives for business enterprises to "donate time" of staff, particularly during the critical 3:30 pm-5:30 pm after-school period, Saturday mornings and the proposed weekly afternoon recreation and sport for schools.
  • Provide incentives for business enterprises to encourage employee health, use of fitness centres and alternative transport that involves sustained physical activity.
  • Provide incentives for business to establish safe crèche facilities for employees at work.

• The Department of Conservation should:
  • Work closely and in partnership with Active New Zealand to enhance participation by New Zealanders in the outdoors.
  • Develop joint policies with Active New Zealand to advocate greater protection of the outdoor recreation environment and encourage maximum use of open spaces by all New Zealanders.

  Each initiative noted above will mark progress towards the country becoming more active and healthy. The respective Government departments hold this critical responsibility jointly with Active New Zealand.