WELLINGTON – A major source of New Zealand’s international sporting talent could disappear if an ACT party Bill being considered by the New Zealand Parliament goes through. If Voluntary Student Membership had to take effect it would severe implications for tertiary sport in this FISU Member Association as funding and resource towards sporting opportunities at a campus level right through to National and International events would be severely reduced or cut altogether.
Louise Burns, Executive Director at University Sport New Zealand said “We hold grave concerns for the future of tertiary sport if the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill were to pass. Australia’s recent experience, where tertiary sport was decimated, shows just what would happen under this Bill.” As a direct result of similar legislation introduced to Australia, research has shown a 41% reduction in the number of students representing their university at interuniversity sport. “Early indications also show that participation by women in sporting clubs, and at interuniversity sport, has fallen to just 40%. These alarming statistics are on top of nearly 100 sporting services across New Zealand being shut down. These services include elite athlete support, reductions in campus-based recreational programs and a 17% reduction in club sport participation.” Ms Burns said New Zealand students could expect a similar experience should this Bill be passed, which would be an absolute travesty for a country that prides itself on its sporting culture. “Funding and resources towards sporting opportunities from campus level right through to National and International events would be severely reduced or cut altogether. Students’ associations are the funders of USNZ, and without them our organization, and the events we organize, would not be viable”.
These events include the national New Zealand University Games, teams for both the Summer and Winter Universiades and the New Zealand Universities Blues Awards to name just a few.
Tertiary sport has long been the feeding ground for Kiwi sports champions on and off the field. Through the evolution of tertiary sports programs and University Sport New Zealand have come great sports personalities such as Barry Maister, Secretary-General New Zealand Olympic Committee; Steve Tew, CEO, New Zealand Rugby Union; Mayhe Drysdale, World and Olympic Rower; Danyon Loader, Olympic Champion; Bernice Mene, Silver Fern; Caroline Evers Swindell, World and Olympic Rower; and current Silver Ferns assistant coach and SPARC Board member Waimarama Taumanu.
University Sport New Zealand and its supporters firmly believe that tertiary sports opportunities need to be secured so that the next generation of students can experience this great Kiwi tradition.
Student Associations, Universities, Tertiary providers and organisations such as USNZ compiled submissions for the Select Committee considering this legislation. USNZ also made an oral presentation on the first day of consideration back in April 2010. Despite the Committee receiving nearly 5,000 submissions, 99% of which opposed the Bill, they have recommended it proceed.
It is anticipated that it will be presented before Parliament in NZ on or around the 20 October 2010, if at this point the Bill is passed it would then take effect as law on 1 January 2012.
“University Sport New Zealand is continuing to work with partners and affiliates in lobbying against this Bill, unless USNZ can secure short term financial support we may be forced to close. Current USNZ programmes such as the World University Games, New Zealand Universities Blues, Uni Games and Uni Snow Games are all be at risk. Training and development programmes run by USNZ for tertiary sports staff would be discontinued and new initiatives being explored with the New Zealand Secondary School Sports Council would be dropped”, Louise Burns told FISU Media.
(Source: Louise Burns, Executive Director University Sport New Zealand)
