Annual Report 2021

VOICE OF OUR RANGATAHI
Good news story
The Voice of Rangatahi is an annual survey of participants and
non-participants of school sport and physical activity. The
survey is available across New Zealand for those secondary
schools who want to be involved.
This year, Sport Auckland had responses from 1,086 students
at 7 Auckland secondary schools. 79% of our respondents
were female and 21% were male.
Some findings from our survey were motivators to work more
intensely with 2 of our secondary schools.
• Lynfield College results showed us that only 11% of
respondents are physically active for 1 hour every day
(Ministry of Health guidelines); and 67% of respondents
want to do more physical activity in school. Lynfield
College hoped to use this survey data to add strength to
the need for their Sport Engagement Lead role.
• Sport Auckland also presented findings to Selwyn
College that showed a gap in activity for girls which
needs to be addressed. Efforts are underway to create a
young women and girls project at the school.
Examples of barriers to partake in physical
activity identified by our inactive students:
• Too busy
• Too tired or don’t have the energy
• I don’t have the equipment I need
• It’s too hard to motivate myself
• Too hard to get to training
• I don’t feel welcome or included
“I feel I don’t do enough at school
but I haven’t found a way to
do more” – Voice of Rangatahi
participant
“I was not good enough, others
hardly helped and only degraded
me” – Voice of Rangatahi
participant
Hanging
out with
friends
232120+19+17
Being part
of team
why
sport?
I feel
healthy
School Sport New Zealand Innovation in Sport Award
Sport Auckland, together with Lynfield College, Mt Roskill Grammar School and One Tree Hill College were grateful to receive
a School Sport New Zealand Innovation in Sport Award. This award recognises initiative in school sport that is deemed to be
exceptional in providing quality sporting opportunities for students.
Lynfield College, Mt Roskill Grammar and One Tree Hill College, in partnership with Sport Auckland, implemented Sport Engagement
Leads in to their schools sport programmes. This role has a focus on increasing participation through quality sport opportunities
beyond traditional options and driven by student voice.
Over the last couple of years Sport Auckland’s RSD has been working in depth with Lynfield College, Mt Roskill Grammar School
and One Tree Hill College focusing on increasing quality participation in physical activity and sporting opportunities in each
respective school. Time and time again the NZSSSC data positions these schools in the lower echelons of student participation.
Whilst we know that NZSSSC data does not present the holistic picture of student participation in schools we knew we needed to
try something different to positively shift the upward curve of student participation.
We needed to innovate. We needed a new improved narrative to tell. Leveraging off the play.sport successes that Lynfield College
had in 2019, taking research and insights into account, aligning thinking with the Value of Sport and using the locally-led approach
framework a potential solution was identified. It was determined to work from the inside and employ a person within each of these
schools whose sole focus would be on creating quality sporting and physical activity opportunities beyond the traditional sporting
model; based on the student voice.
The Senior Leadership Teams of Lynfield College, Mt Roskill Grammar and One Tree Hill College saw the massive value in such
a role. They each invested into their respective positions financially and in time committed to sourcing additional funding. Sport
Auckland was encouraged by Sport NZ to innovate its thinking around how best to deploy Kiwisport investment within set criteria.
Our RSD successfully advocated for the Kiwisport criteria to be better aligned to the needs of these Secondary School students. In
turn, our Independent Advisory Group applied a growth mindset toward each school’s Kiwisport application looking at the potential
positive impact such an investment could have for our rangatahi, particularly the inactive students. They favoured the Locally-Led
Approach built from the inside. The focus was to give equitable opportunity for every student and to shift the needle considerably
upwards in student participation and enjoyment statistics. All three schools employed fantastic and committed individuals who
have already had an impact in their schools despite the chaos of COVID-19. Through these roles 1,400 students have received
physical activity opportunities. Other outcomes include:
• More opportunities in girls only setting;
• Engagement in the home setting during
lockdowns;
• Increased engagement in physical
activity;
• Schools working in partnership with
local sports clubs;
• Increased engagement of school staff
being involved in the sports programme.
The role is highly valued by the schools with
I learn
new
skills
all three Principals seeking further advice
and funding opportunities so that such roles
can continue. All three roles have now been
It
funded into 2021.
challenges
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