Issue 123 : 26 February 2023
Talofa Lava, Kia Orana, Malo E Leilei, Tena Koutou, Hello ...
... and welcome to the latest issue of “For The Love Of The Game”, the official e-zine of the New Zealand Amateur Sport Association Inc., founded in Wellington, New Zealand in 2017.
If you have any feedback on this issue, ideas for future articles, or would like to contact the Editor, please click here. And, you are invited to forward the e-zine to others you know, who may be interested in reading it. An archive of earlier editions of the e-zine can be found here.
For those who follow Twitter, you can also follow the Association, @AmateurSportNZ. If you are interested in applying for membership of the Association, please click here.
Sport Offers Sanctuary, And Suffers Loss In Wake Of Cyclone ...
With many parts of the North Island still reeling from the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, community sport infrastructure has proven to be invaluable in providing shelter and support for those in need. At the heart of many communities, sport clubs have opened their doors to assist. By way of example, the Piha Surf Life Saving Club Inc. operated as a welfare centre, providing a safe haven for local residents offering food, clothing, toiletries and accommodation. In Hawkes Bay, the Hastings Sports Centre became an evacuation centre during the worst of the storm.
(The Hastings Sports Centre was a key evacuation centre during recent flooding)
However, with the focus now turning to recovery, the damage and loss sustained by many sporting groups is now being assessed. In Gisborne, it was reported that the Poverty Bay Kayak Club Inc. had water up to head height in the club’s sheds. Club members were able to remove some boats from lower racks, but didn’t anticipate the water reaching the level that it did. Unfortunately, the remaining boats filled with silt from the water, causing many to snap from the weight, (around 20 uninsured boats now need fixing or replacing).
Further south in Napier, the Maraenui Rugby & Sports Association Inc. clubrooms and playing surfaces all suffered extensive damage. At one point the facility was reported to be under six feet of water. The club facilities are currently unavailable pending an insurance assessment.
(The Poverty Bay Kayak Club Inc. has suffered extensive flood damage)
Sporting groups fortunate to have insurance will be thankful that many of the costs arising from the storm’s damage will be paid for, however those without insurance will now be facing financial challenges in repairing damage and replacing lost equipment. Fund-raising for some clubs has now become an important priority. Looking ahead, both central and local government will have a significant role to play in helping community sport clubs get back on their feet.
Public No Longer Gets Say On Regulations ...
"Clubs thought they’d get a say on what the final regulations governing incorporated societies looked like, but under-the-pump officials say there’s no longer any time.” In the Association’s opinion, lack of time is not a sound reason to cancel public consultation, which was factored into the timeline for the development of the regulations.
("Lack of time" is not an acceptable reason to cancel consultation)
Association Chairman, Gordon Noble-Campbell recently caught up with Emma Hatton from newsroom.co.nz, who published an article on the issue, which you can read here.
Viewpoint : "Why Consultation Matters" …
The International Association for Public Participation (www.iap2.org) has seven core values, four of which have been brought into clear focus as a consequence of the cancelled public consultation on the Incorporated Societies Act regulations.
The values in focus are: (1) those who are affected by a decision have a right to be involved in the decision-making process; (2) public participation includes the promise that the public’s contribution will influence the decision; (3) public participation seeks out and facilitates the involvement of those potentially affected by or interested in a decision; and (4) public participation communicates to participants how their input affected the decision.
(Those affected by regulation must have a say on policymaker decisions)
Of these, the fourth is being ignored, while the impact of the others is diluted. Failure to meet these core values may lead to decisions which are perceived to lack social license, or result in unintended consequences, where the lack of consultation results in decisions which fail to adequately take account of public concerns. If additional human or financial resources are required to ensure that the core values referred to above are maintained, it is surely incumbent on government to provide them, irrespective of any other matters or agendas.
(The OECD reports a global reluctance for policymakers to consult the public)
Of interest, the OECD reports that global studies on regulatory consultation confirm a general hesitation among policy and decision makers about the use of public consultation. There are many reasons for this, including that policymakers may want to avoid over-complication of what they consider to be already sophisticated law-drafting processes.
In addition, it is often argued by policymakers (says the OECD) that the public “may not have the capacity to develop a coherent system of knowledge on the regulation in question, because the issue at stake may simply be too complex or too time consuming to fully consider.” Overall, the OECD states that public consultation “supports better evidence-based decision making”, a sentiment with which this Association fully agrees.
New Zealand Rugby Union Inc. Governance Review ...
A reminder that the New Zealand Rugby Union Inc. is currently reviewing the nature and performance of its governance structures and processes to ensure they meet the needs of the clubs, administrators, coaches, players, referees, fans, and volunteers who support rugby.
The New Zealand Rugby Union Inc. is encouraging all its stakeholders, as well as people involved in rugby around the country, to engage with this process to help the panel build a comprehensive view of the current state of the sport. Public submissions (by way of an on-line survey) close on Tuesday, 28 February 2023. The members of the review panel are: David Pilkington (Chair); Anne Urlwin; Whaimutu Dewes; and Graham Mourie.
(The spotlight is now on how rugby is governed in New Zealand)
To have your say, click here.
National Sport Club Survey Heads South ...
Plans are being finalised for three National Sport Club Survey workshops in the South Island in late March. Focusing on 2022 survey insights – and also providing an update on the latest developments in the changing regulatory environment – the project team will be in Dunedin on Monday, 27 March (hosted by Sport Otago), Timaru (hosted by Sport South Canterbury) on the evening of the same day, and in Christchurch on Tuesday, 28 March.
(Workshops are scheduled in Dunedin, Timaru and Christchurch)
Further details on venues and times will be posted on the Association’s website. If you’re interested in attending a workshop in any of these locations on the above dates, contact office@asa.org.nz to register your interest.
2023 Annual General Meeting Date Confirmed ...
The date of the seventh Annual General Meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Sport Association Inc. has been confirmed by the Board as being on Tuesday, 18 April 2023 at 5.30pm, at the Wellesley Boutique Hotel, Wellington.
(Expressions of interest for Board positions are welcome from the community)
Expressions of interest for Board positions are very welcome from our wider membership. If you would like to be nominated to become a member of the Association’s Board, please contact the Association’s Chairman, Gordon Noble-Campbell at office@asa.org.nz.
From The Archives ...
MOTOR-CYCLE RECORD
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, VOLUME LXXI, ISSUE 21823, 11 JUNE 1934, PAGE 12
“The New Zealand speed record for 500 c.c. motor-cycles, which has been held by W. Kilmister, of Wellington, for over a year, was regained yesterday by A. Mattson, of Auckland, the previous holder of the record, subject to confirmation.
Riding a three and a half horse-power J.A.P. machine, Mattson averaged 107.785 miles an hour in two runs over a flying half-mile at Muriwai Beach. On his first run, Mattson was timed at 16 4-5 seconds for the half-mile, equal to 107.14 miles an hour, and on the return, his time was 16 3-5 seconds, or 108.43 mikes an hour, making an average for the two runs of 107.785 miles an hour. Kilmister's record, made at Waikanae, Wellington, in March last year, on a similar machine to Mattson's, was 104.651 miles an hour.”
Alfred William (Alf) Mattson was born on 28 August 1911 the eldest of the three sons and one daughter of Wilbert Alfred (a baker's son and plumbing contractor) and Edith May (nee Henderson) Mattson. The family lived in Ellerslie, Auckland where Wilbert was a member of the Harley-Davidson Touring Club, owning a motor-cycle with side-car in the 1920's.
(Alf Mattson, also popularly known as "The Boy Wonder")
In 1928, Wilbert (who was also a member of the Otahuhu Cricket Club's management committee) presented a Cup (the W Mattson Cup) to the "Sports Motor Cycle Club" to be won in a 20 mile race on Muriwai Beach, for private amateur riders. The following year, Alf began racing as an 18-year-old on a 350 c.c. Raleigh, as a member of the club. He became Auckland speedway champion that year and New Zealand speedway champion the following year.
In March 1931, Mattson briefly went to England to race professionally, returning to New Zealand in October that year. As noted above, in 1934, he broke the New Zealand record for the fastest speed on a 500 c.c. motorcycle, reaching an average top speed of 107.65 mph, (173.24 kph). Motorcycle racing was in the Mattson blood, with Alf’s much younger brother (known as "Wild" Doug Mattson), also an accomplished rider.
Alf Mattson married Gladys Maud Keesing from Te Aroha on 24 October 1935 and became a successful plumbing and heating engineer. He died on 27 May 2001 at the age of 89 years. His memorial is at the Manukau Memorial Gardens, near Auckland airport.
The Final Word …
“There is immense power when a group of people with similar interests gets together to work toward the same goals.”
(Idowu Koyenika)