Government involvement in New Zealand sport: Sport policy, a cautionary tale .

H. D. V. Lawrence

University of Waikato, Hamilton.

Research Manager @ Univeristy of Waikato:

amandas@waikato.ac.nz

Through an examination of available government and sport sector records, and the author‟s own experience as a participant in events, the thesis recounts a sequence of five milestones for the New Zealand sport system and views them through a public management system lens. The passing of the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act in 1937, the establishment of a Ministry and Council for Recreation and Sport in 1973, the ministerial Sports Development Inquiry in 1984, the Prime Minister‟s Review of High Performance Sport in 1995 and the Sport, Fitness and Leisure Ministerial Taskforce. Government funding of sport now stands at around $100 million annually from small beginnings of $3,295 in 1945/1946, despite the absence of a comprehensive national policy for sport. By examining the chronology through a wider state sector lens, the thesis opens a window to the practical effect of public policy processes on matters of importance to the New Zealand sport sector and its voluntary sector foundations. This thesis also provides a rationale for revitalising the engagement between government and the New Zealand sport sector to meet the expectations of a modern state sector to meaningfully engage citizens and the non-government sector in the formation of policy and planning its implementation.

Keywords:

central government, funding, history, management, policy, sports

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Waikato

Sport

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November 14, 2011

December 12, 2011