Indian Newslink 1st APRIL 2018 Digital Edition

APRIL 1, 2018
Sportslink
31
Study reveals value of sports to New Zealanders
And we need more participation by women
Grant Robertson
Ihave launched anew study
by Sport NZ which explores
the value of sport to New Zealanders,
their communities
and our country.
There is no question that sport
is at the heart of our national
identity, but what this study tells
us is that being physically active
also creates happier, healthier
people, and better- connected
communities.
‘The Value of Sport’ surveyed
around 2000 New Zealanders and
reviewed previous studies from
here and around the world.
Building confidence
This study shows that Kiwis
believe sport and physical activity
bring people together and create
a sense of belonging.
Other key findings from the
Value of Sport include (a) 88%
of people believe that sport
and other physical activities
provide them with opportunities
to achieve and help build
confidence (b) Three-quarters
of Kiwis say sport and physical
activity help build vibrant and
stimulating communities and (c)
The sport and active recreation
Images and Infographics from ‘The Value of Sports Survey
sector employs more than 53,000
New Zealanders.
Community support
The report was launched on
Saturday, March 17, 2018 at
Wellington’s ASB Centre as part of
a visit to local club netball trials
and asecondary school volleyball
tournament.
It is fantastic to see athletes of
all ages and skill levels, and the
volunteers and whanau who
support them, coming together
under one roof.
It just goes to show the power
of sport to bring people together
and create asense of belonging.
Grant Robertson is Sport and
Recreation Minister of New
Zealand
Following is aReport by Radio
New Zealand, published by
Indian Newslink under aSpecial
Agreement with www.rnz.co.nz
We need more women in Sports
Sport and Recreation Minister
Grant Robertson said that he
is committed to getting more
women into sport.
Mr Robertson released astudy
on March 18, 2018 by Sport
New Zealand, which highlights
the importance of sport to New
Zealanders, and how it benefits
individuals and communities.
The report canvassed 1500
people including many in the
sport and recreation sector.
It found almost three quarters
of adults participated in sport
over the past week, compared to
nine out of 10 young people.
Just one in five adults belonged
to asports club and 9% had gym
memberships.
The report also found that 51%
of young people were part of a
school sports team.
Issue on priority
However, the report said that
60% of boys were participating
in club sport, compared to 49%
of girls.
Mr Robertson said that he had
made it his priority as Minister
of Sport to see agreater role for
women and girls in sport.
“It is also the role modelling
question, we want role models to
be celebrated. I’m really excited
with some of the developments
in women’s sport that we are
starting to see across the codes,
but there’s awhole lot more to
do,” he said.
Grassroots changes
Mr Robertson said that he
wanted to see changes at a
grassroots level.
“It is actually about the
priorities that we put on that -encouraging
and supporting clubs,
for instance, to have development
officers who focus on women.
And Iknow anumber of the
codes around New Zealand are
now doing that -their development
officers are not just males
but they’re also females,” he said.
Former Silver Ferns’ Coach, and
Head Coach at Wellington Netball
Club PIC Wai Taumaunu attended
the launch and said that her Club
provided positive role models to
younger women.
“I was fortunate enough that
having started sport quite young,
I was then exposed to awide
range of wonderful female role
models in positions of authority,”
she said.
Ms Taumaunu said that she
strongly believed that her netball
club made apositive impact on
her community.