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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to offer my deepest appreciation to those that made this thesis possible.
Firstly Geoff Dickson, my primary supervisor, thanks for both the support and
interest you have given me over the time in my postgraduate studies. Without your
continued enthusiasm this thesis would have not been possible. You have helped me mature
as a student and become a confident individual.
Secondly Sean Phelps, my primary supervisor, without your input also this thesis
would not have been possible. Thanks for all the advice that you have given me. Your
feedback has been essential. I thank you both for you time and effort, and I look forward to
adapting my thesis into a journal article in the future.
Thanks also to those lecturers at AUT who gave me advice - Kate Kearins and
Roger Marshall. Special thanks to those involved at the AUT School of Sport and
Recreation - Irene Ryan, and the others that I met while completing my undergraduate
degree. Special thanks to Bob Heere for introducing me to postgraduate study.
Thanks to those that offered to let me interview them as part of the pilot study.
Special thanks to Gaye Bryham, John Rice and Henry Duncan, who were all generous with
their time. You have all helped me advance in my interviewing technique, which gave me
that extra confidence when conducting my interviews.
Thanks to all the participants, who let me interview them at the case study
organisations, for without you this research thesis would not have been possible. You were
all generous in giving up your time, for which I am very grateful. I wish you all the best for
your sport in the future.
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