This page created 14 February 2001
The Ministerial taskforce has reported to Government with an ambitious strategy to get New Zealanders off their backsides -- to get active. This is a most welcome initiative.
PANZ's preliminary view is that it appears problematic as to how recreational advocates, as opposed to recreational participant organisations, could be accommodated within a new Government funding regime. While the taskforce has recognised the distinction of recreation from sport, the funding structures it recommends are best suited to individual sporting codes.
Advocates for "the public interest" for a range of recreational activities, who are not direct participants per se, are relatively few in number. However the benefits of their advocacy extend throughout the community. They, including PANZ, deserve recognition and support. They are contributing less directly to increased participation than 'participant' organisations, but are equally deserving of community support.
The issue of loss of sovereignty for organisations receiving Government funding was in the terms of reference but was not dealt with in the report. Conversely, there was no reference to the Treaty of Waitangi in the terms of reference however the taskforce recommends that all agencies involved in the recreation and sport sector "must reflect a commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi in their policies and practices at all levels". It seems that confused, ill-defined notions about what are really state obligations to the Treaty are to be transferred and enforced upon private organisations. That is likely to kill the subscribing support/member base of organisations whom receive government patronage. The report claims to be non-political.
The full report can be obtained from: http://www.executive.govt.nz/minister/mallard/taskforce/