2023 Annual Report

from our chair and chief executive
Our purpose remains to inspire our communities to live healthy active lifestyles. We achieve this
by focusing on Play, Active Recreation, Sport and Health initiatives. We deliver these initiatives in
communities of activity that need our help, specifically where tamariki and rangatahi are missing out.
On behalf of our staff and Board we have much pleasure in presenting Sport Auckland’s 31st Annual Report. A year in which New
Zealand continued to roll on with the hosting of more female world cups. On the back of the Women’s Cricket World Cup New
Zealand hosted the Women’s Rugby World Cup. This event totally enthralled our nation from the top of the North Island to the
bottom of the South Island, despite the games only being played in Northland and Auckland. The Black Ferns certainly entertained
us with their running style of rugby and the final was an epic encounter at Eden Park between the English Roses and our own Black
Ferns. Having narrowly defeated France in one of the semifinals 25-24, the Black Ferns went on to retain the World Cup beating
England 34-31 and sensationally ending England's 30-match unbeaten run. It was one big party at Eden Park in New Zealand on
the 12th November 2022 with the result of the game right in the balance until that very last contested lineout 5 metres out from
the Black Ferns line. What an awesome time for women’s sport and for sport in general, and there’s more to come with the FIFA
Women's World Cup ready to roll in July 2023.
We have been galvanised with these events and when we talk about transformational change and inspiring our tamariki and
rangatahi to have a lifelong love for sport and physical activity what a great trigger these world cup events have been to stimulate
that transformational change. We wish the Football Ferns and all the 32 teams, supporters, and followers all the best for their
upcoming tournament.
“Transformation is an on-going process that tends to appear ordinary when, in fact, something extraordinary is taking place” -
Suzy Ross, Author and Professor
Something extraordinary has and is taking place in front of our very eyes with the immediate impact of delivering these world cups.
It is fantastic to see female participation, administration, governance and match officiating getting the lift it so thoroughly deserves.
Let us not lose the opportunity to keep our foot on the pedal and to continue to leverage off all this good work particularly for us at
community level. There’s a good vibe around and if we are brave, wise and in sync with what is unfolding we will create a fantastic
future that brings equality to play, active recreation and sport for generations to come no matter what gender, ethnicity, age, or
any demographic that you resonate with. The transformational change is long overdue but is very extraordinary.
Sport Auckland itself has had a good year, as part of that transformational change. We were thrilled to be awarded the 2023 Sport
and Recreation Award for Local Community Impact. The winning of this Community Impact award could not have come at a better
time for Sport Auckland. It gives us the affirmation that we are on the right track to help, serve and inspire our communities to live
healthy active lifestyles. It cements our strategic focus of amping the benefits and importance of Play in the lives of our tamariki. It
cements the principles of allowing tamariki permission, time, and space to engage in free and risky play. We thank Stanhope Road
School for allowing us to partner with them on the Play Festival held in November and they were partners with us in the winning
of this award.
The calendar year itself did not start off as well as we would have liked. History will record that Auckland experienced unprecedented
wet weather catastrophes in January and February. The flooding in Auckland was unimaginable as was Cyclone Gabrielle which
trashed the North Island. The impact was major with large displacements of people from their homes, whānau and businesses.
Tragically lives were lost. Our thoughts go out to all those who have been affected by these horrific events. Recovery will be slow
and long for many. Again though, as has happened for the last couple of years, Aucklanders gathered around each other to support
and help those affected. Resilience appears to be a continuum now and goodhearted responses were again at the forefront.
Often in times like these we can rely, in part, on the significant healing effect that Play, Active Recreation and Sport (PARS) can have
on us when the going gets tough. PARS did play a significant role this year for our stakeholders. Throughout the annual report you
can read what has been achieved together in partnership with our communities. We are very proud of our achievements and our
strong collaborative relationships we have with you all.
Perhaps a quick recap of where we focus our attention would be advantageous here. Our purpose remains to inspire our
communities to live healthy active lifestyles. We achieve this by focusing on Play, Active Recreation, Sport and Health initiatives.
We deliver these initiatives in communities of activity that need our help, specifically where tamariki and rangatahi are missing
out. Most of our work centres around the communities of Glen Innes-Point England, Panmure-Mt Wellington, Hillsborough-Roskill,
Pakuranga, Howick, Flat Bush-Ormiston and pockets of Grey Lynn. We also work with community clubs and organisations helping
lift their capacity and capability to deliver quality opportunities for tamariki and rangatahi in Play, Active Recreation and Sport.
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