High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) has been established - through a merger of the New Zealand Academies of Sport (North Island and South Island) and the High Performance unit of SPARC - with the aim of simplifying and streamlining New Zealand's High Performance system, and giving it an increased focus on excellence. It will improve support for athletes, coaches and National Sporting Organisations and improve collaboration and knowledge sharing among all those involved in High Performance Sport.
HPSNZ is a wholly owned subsidiary company of SPARC and is led by a Board appointed by the Minister.
For more information on HPSNZ, please read the SPARC Media Releases below:
Reshaping High Performance Sport - 19 July, 2011
Media statement from Hon Murray McCully, Minister for Sport and Recreation
Minister for Sport and Recreation, Murray McCully, has announced the inaugural board of directors for the new organisation “High Performance Sport New Zealand.”
High Performance Sport NZ has been formed by merging the SPARC high performance unit with the two New Zealand Academies of Sport into a streamlined unit.
It will develop high performance athletes with an annual spend of $60 million dollars and further develop world-class training facilities in partnerships with the private sector.
“I am pleased the current Chairman of SPARC, Paul Collins, will be the first Chairman of the High Performance Sport New Zealand,” said Mr McCully.
The other board appointments consist of three sitting members from the SPARC board: Katie Sadlier, Don Mackinnon and Bill Birnie; NZ Academy of Sport nominations Mike Stanley (North Island) and Peter Cox (South Island); New Zealand Olympic Committee nominee; Simon Wickham; and two independent members, Mark Weldon and Hamish Carter. The Board also includes SPARC CE Peter Miskimmin as an ex-officio member.
“This is a significant announcement for high performance sport in New Zealand, as this new entity will focus on building a culture which pursues excellence and allows athletes to focus on performance rather than funding,“ said Mr McCully.
Earlier this year, SPARC and the academies of sport announced an agreement in principle to merge. Since then a working group has been working on the design of the new entity, which will be a subsidiary of SPARC, but which will have a majority of external directors.“High Performance Sport NZ will have its own CEO and an international search is now underway as part of the transition process,” said the Minister.
The new Chairman of High Performance Sport New Zealand, Paul Collins, says input from the NZOC, sport organisations, coaches and athletes is proving valuable in finalising the design and transition plan for the new entity.
“The Government injection of new capital and operating funding last year has presented the sector with an amazing opportunity to assess what’s possible,” he said.
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New high performance sport entity a step closer - 30 March, 2011
A new entity to take high performance sport in New Zealand to the next level is now a step closer.
Paul Collins, Chair of the SPARC High Performance Board, has announced an agreement in principle to form a single high performance sport entity through a merger of the two New Zealand Academies of Sport and SPARC’s High Performance Unit.
The new entity will have strong links to the New Zealand Olympic Committee and national sports organisations.
Paul Collins says a merger will take high performance sport in New Zealand to a new level.
“This new structure will harness the energy and refine the focus of everyone involved in high performance sport. This is great news for our athletes,” he said.
“A more focused approach, teamed up with the network of world-class facilities currently being developed around the country, will herald in a new era for our high performance athletes. We will see more Kiwis winning on the world stage.”
The New Zealand Academies of Sport, North Island and South Island, have welcomed the announcement.
NZAS North Island Board chair Mike Stanley says this agreement is great news for everyone involved in the delivery of high performance sport.
“This agreement marks the start of a watershed time for high performance sport in New Zealand and we’re thrilled to be a part of it. The academies already work closely with athletes to help them be the best that they can be. As part of this new entity we’ll be able to do even more, and so will our athletes.”
The review of New Zealand’s high performance structure was announced by the Prime Minister last year as part of a major investment in, and re-shaping of, high performance sport, aimed at making New Zealand one of the most successful sporting nations in the world.
SPARC’s High Performance Board was charged with leading the review and preliminary work has been underway since then.
An HP Working Group has now been set up to talk to athletes, coaches, national sports organisations and staff at the academies and SPARC, and to work through the details of how the new high performance unit should be established.
Dave Beeche, who is on the HP Working Group as a representative of the National Sports Organisations CEs Group, says athletes will be the real winners.
“National sports organisations will only have to deal with one agency when seeking high performance funding and support, and our athletes will be able to focus on winning medals.”
Paul Collins says the transition to a new structure will be handled carefully so that it doesn’t disrupt athletes as they prepare for the London 2012 Olympics and other major events.
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Major Boost for High Performance Sport - 11 June, 2010
Media statement from Hon Murray McCully, Minister for Sport and Recreation.
The Government has today announced a major re-shaping and expansion of high performance sport in New Zealand. Minister for Sport and Recreation, Murray McCully, says the aim is to ensure that New Zealand is consistently one of the most successful sporting nations in the world.
Key features of the changes announced today by Prime Minister John Key and Minister for Sport and Recreation, Murray McCully are:
- The most significant funding injection into high performance sport in New Zealand, amounting to new Budget funding of $10 million in 2010/11, $15 million in 2011/12, and $20 million annually after that. By the 2012/13 year, total funding for high performance sport will be over $60 million annually, compared to the current annual allocation of $42 million;
- A $15 million injection from Lottery Grants Board reserves, which will contribute towards high performance infrastructure development;
- The establishment of a new separate entity within SPARC, charged with overseeing government investment into world class high performance facilities and delivery of athlete support, with a distinct high performance culture of excellence;
- A $40 million expansion of the Millennium Institute (into which the Government has committed $15 million) which is currently the home of the North Island Academy of Sport and the majority of our top athletes, and will become the National Training Centre for High Performance Sport;
- Significant further work is planned for the development of a network of satellite high performance facilities (to which the Government will make key cornerstone contributions) in Christchurch, the home of the South Island Academy of Sport; rowing and canoe racing high performance centres at Lake Karapiro; a centre for sailing at Takapuna; a new high performance centre for cycling including a velodrome; and regional Academy feeders in Wellington and Dunedin;
- A significant boost to supporting our best athletes with direct funding, by retaining and recruiting top coaches, providing world class sports science and medicine services through the two Academies of Sport, and through innovation and technology that will give our athletes a competitive advantage on the world stage.
Announcing the changes at the Millennium Institute today, Mr McCully described the changes as “the biggest boost ever for New Zealand high performance sport.” The full impact of this funding injection, which amounts to over 50% increase to current levels, will be evident from the 2016 Olympics.
Mr McCully said the new High Performance Institute will be a subsidiary of SPARC and will be characterised by an uncompromising high performance culture and focus to ensure our athletes arrive at the start line with world-class support. The Board will comprise of the chair, Paul Collins, and three other SPARC Directors, Don McKinnon, Bill Birnie and former Olympic Synchro swimmer Katie Sadlier. The Board also includes four independent Directors, former Olympic swimmer, Mark Weldon, and Olympic Triathlon Gold medallist, Hamish Carter, former Olympic Rower Mike Stanley and Peter Cox, and (ex-officio) member, CEO of SPARC and former Olympic Hockey player, Peter Miskimmin.
The High Performance Board will oversee the Government’s cornerstone investment in a major $80 million expansion of high performance sport facilities over the next three years, of which the Government will fund $15 million directly and up to $15 million from a grant made from excess reserves held by the Lottery Grants Board. The balance will be funded through partnerships with the Millennium Institute and AUT, the North Shore City Council and other partnerships currently under negotiation.
“A cycling centre of excellence is required to build on the success of Bike NZ’s high performance programme. A number of regions have already lodged an interest and have secured regional support. SPARC will run an Expressions of Interest process to manage applications for cornerstone Government funding for a cycling high performance satellite” Mr McCully said.
“As a first step we have moved to fully fund the remaining debt ($1.8 million) on the $4.4 million Karapiro rowing high performance centre through a direct $1 million Government grant, a $300,000 contribution from SPARC and a $500,000 contribution from Mighty River Power. With the World Rowing Championships being hosted at Lake Karapiro later this year, the Government wanted our rowers focused on winning medals, not running cake stalls to raise funds.”
Mr McCully identified this collaboration between Rowing New Zealand, Mighty River Power and the Government as an example of the kind of partnerships the Government wants to create to leverage investment from the private sector, local government and philanthropic funders. Further announcements of key strategic partnerships will follow in the near future.
