16 February 2018
Mr Mijail Linares
[FYI request #7143 email]
Dear Mr Linares
Official Information Act 1982 request – Investment in elite sports
Thank you for your email received by Sport NZ on 18 January 2018 requesting a
response to the following questions under the Official Information Act 1982:
1. Why does the current New Zealand Government invest significantly more in
[High Performance Sport New Zealand] than any other area of the [Sport NZ
Group]?
2. Why does the current New Zealand Government invest in High Performance
Sport in the first place?
3. What was the evidence used to support the answer to question 2 (please
mention specific sources)?
In response to the queries raised we have provided some context to the sport /
physical activity environment in New Zealand.
Why does the current New Zealand Government invest in High Performance
Sport in the first place?
The New Zealand Government invests in high performance sport, for the following
reasons:
• Its positive contribution to New Zealand’s national identity and pride;
• To inspire New Zealanders to take up a sport or increase their physical
activity and the associated social and health benefits as a result; and
• The economic benefits to New Zealand.
Positive contribution to national identity and pride.
For New Zealanders’ there is a strong link between our national identity, participation
in sport, and success on the world stage. A 2008 Ministry for Culture and Heritage
survey found New Zealanders’ identity is often derived from sport and sport was the
fourth was most important factor contributing to New Zealand’s culture. Of those
surveyed individuals aged between 18 and 24 considered sport the most important
factor contributing to culture.
Young New Zealanders are influenced by elite sports personalities in their decisions
about which sport or active recreation they participate in.
Inspiring New Zealanders – social cohesion and health outcomes
The New Zealand Government, in line with other Governments around the world,
supports High Performance Sport to inspire its citizens. This is particularly relevant
for younger people, who are inspired by mega sporting events or our elite athletes to
take up sport or some form of physical activity. Increase physical activity improves
physical and mental wellbeing, and social cohesion.
Economic benefit
Success on the world stage by New Zealand athletes and teams promotes the New
Zealand brand with our trading partners and the global tourism market. This
exposure through high performance sport makes a valuable economic contribution to
New Zealand’s economy. For example, the Rugby World Cup has been estimated to
have increased the national economy in the short term of $1.730b.
Why does the current New Zealand Government invest significantly more in
[High Performance Sport New Zealand] than any other area of the [Sport NZ
Group]?
Community Sport is supported through a number of different funding and support
mechanisms, including but not limited to New Zealand Lotteries Grants Board, Class
4 Gambling, a range of community trusts and Local councils. In total, it is estimated
that there is $2.5b per year that benefits community sport and recreation in New
Zealand. The Government through Sport NZ is a small contributor ($43m per year
approximately) in the community sport system. Community Sport also receives
funding for specific initiatives other Government agencies such as the Ministry of
Education (Kiwisport).
In contrast, the New Zealand Government is the predominant investor in high
performance sport. Other funding sources for high performance sport are limited to,
in general, private or corporate funders.
The Government’s investment has led to significant improvements in results over
time across a range of targeted Sports. New Zealand has gone from winning five
medals at the Athens 2004 Olympics to winning 13 medals at the London 2012
Olympics and winning 18 medals in the Rio Olympics. New Zealand is considered to
have one of the best performing high performance systems in the world.
As requested in query three a list of sources is provided in appendix one.
If you would like to discuss this response further please contact Dr Alice Hume,
Manager Policy by email at [Sport and Recreation New Zealand request email].
Please note that if you are not satisfied with this response you have the right to make
a complaint to the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the OIA.
Yours sincerely
Peter Miskimmin
Chief Executive
APPENDIX ONE: Specific sources
Angus & Associates (2017). Better Understanding the Value of Sport.
Angus & Associates (2017). Value of Sport: Summary of Existing Literature: Prepared for Sport New Zealand. Unpublished
Auckland Council. (2014) Active Communities Investment: Project Exit Report. Connect2Sport September 2014. Unpublished
Allen, K., Bullough, S., Cole, D., Shibli, S., and Wilson, J. (2013). The Impact of Engagement in Sport on Graduate Employability Final
Report. Sport Industry Research Centre Sheffield Hallam University
Ahlskog, K.E., Geda, Y.E., Graff Radford, N.R., Peterson, R.C. (2011). Physical Exercise as a Preventative or Disease Modifying
Treatment of Dementia and Brain Aging. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 86 (Issue 9): 876-884
Boyd,S., & Felgate, R. (2016). Planning the Game. What does Play.Sport Student Baseline Data tell us about Current Practice? New
Zealand Council for Education (unpublished)
British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Loughborough University. (2014). Evidence Briefing:
Physical Activity for Children and Young People. Loughborough University
Bull, F., & Bauman, A. (2011). Physical Inactivity: The “Cinderella” Risk Factor for Non-Communicable Disease Prevention. Journal of
Health Communication,16 (Suppl 2): 13-26
Dalziel, P. (2015). The Economic Value of Sport and Outdoor Recreation to New Zealand: Updated Data. AERU, Lincoln University.
Ding, D., Lawson, K.D., Kolbe-Alexander, T.L., Finkelstein, E.A., Katzmarzyk, P.T., van Mechelen. W., & Pratt, M. (2016). The
Economic Burden of Physical Inactivity: A Global Analysis of Major Non-Communicable Diseases. Lancet, 388: 1311-24
Dowden, A., & Michelmore, K. (2010). Value of Sport and Recreation: Case Study of Northern United Rugby Football Club. Research
New Zealand.
Eime, R.M., Young, J.A., Harvey, J.T., Charity, M.J., Payne. W. (2013). A Systematic Review of the Psychological and Social Benefits
of Participation in Sport for Children and Adolescents: Informing Development of a Conceptual Model of Health through Sport.
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2013, 10: 98
Jose, K.A, Blizzard, L., Dwyer, T., McKercher, C., & Venn, A.J. (2011). Childhood and Adolescent Predictors of Leisure Time Physical
Activity During the Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood: A Population Based Cohort Study. International Journal of Behavioural
and Physical Activity. 8:54
Lester. S., & Russel. W. (2008). Summary Report. Play for a Change. Play, Policy and Practice: A Review of Contemporary
Perspectives. Play England
Lee, I., Shiroma, E.J., Lobelo, F., Puska, P., Blair, S.N., Katzmarzyk., P.T. (2012). Effect of Physical Inactivity on Major Non-
Communicable Diseases Worldwide: An Analysis of Burden of Disease and Life Expectancy. Lancet, 2012; 380: 219-29
Lubans, D. Richards, J., Hillman, C., Faulkner, G., Beauchamp, M., Nilsson, M., Kelly, P., Smith, J., Raine, L., Biddle, S. (2016).
Physical Activity for Cognitive and Mental Health in Youth: A Systematic Review of Mechanisms. Pediatrics, 138 (3)
Ministry for Culture and Heritage (2009). How important is culture? New Zealanders’ Views in 2008 – an overview.
Ministry of Health. (2016). Annual Update of Key Results 2015/16: New Zealand Health Survey. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Wellington.
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (2015). Settling in New Zealand: Migrants’ Perceptions of their Experience. 2015
Migrant Survey. MBIE, Wellington
Mental Health Foundation. (2014). Mental Health Foundation: Quick Facts and Stats, 2014. Retrieved from
https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/assets/ Uploads/MHF-Quick-facts-and-stats-FINAL.pdf
Mackay, M., Prendergast, K., Schofield, G.M., & Jarden, A. (2014). Sovereign Wellbeing Index Mini Report Series Report No.3 Take
Charge: Exercise and Wellbeing in New Zealand November 2015. Human Potential Centre, AUT University Auckland, New Zealand
Nielsen. (2017). Community Sport VoP Programme 2016/17. Nielsen
Sport New Zealand, 2015. Sport New Zealand Volunteering Insights Report: November 2015, GEMBA. Retrieved from
https://www.srknowledge. org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Gemba_Sport-NZ-Volunteer-Report_260916_vUPDATEDFINAL.pdf
Sport New Zealand. (2015). Sport and Active Recreation in the Lives of New Zealand Adults. 2013/14 Active New Zealand Survey
Results. Wellington: Sport New Zealand
Sport New Zealand. (2012). Sport and Recreation in the Lives of Young New Zealanders. Wellington: Sport New Zealand
Sport New Zealand 2017. Voice of the Participant Survey Results
Quigley & Watts (2014). Evidence Snapshot. Promoting Physical Activity at the Local Government Level: Literature Review. Agencies
of Nutrition Action
Tammelin, T., Nayha, S., Hills, A.P., & Jarvelin, M. (2003). Adolescent Participation in Sports and Adults Physical Activity. American
Journal of Preventative Medicine. 24 (1).
Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (2010) Building Health Through Sport. VicHealth Action Plan 2010-13
Whitebread, D. (2017). Free Play and Children’s Mental Health. The Lancet, 1 (November 2017)
Warren, D. (2018). Environmental Scan of High Performance Sport Linkages to Broader Societal Benefits and Outcomes.
Unpublished.
World Masters Games. (2017). 2017 World Masters Games Auckland New Zealand. Post Event Report.
OW IMPORTANT IS CULTURE?
