Issue 94 : 14 November 2021
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 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.
Small Sport Clubs To Be Spared Financial Reporting Pain ...
Parliament’s Economic Development, Science and Innovation Select Committee has agreed to a material Association recommendation concerning the Incorporated Societies Bill, which will result in "small sport clubs" being spared the pain of comprehensive financial reporting under the proposed new law now being considered by Parliament.
(The Association has successfully lobbied for legislative change on behalf of all clubs)
In the Association’s written submission on the Bill, we noted that a significant number of community sport organisations would be subject to the more comprehensive financial reporting requirements of the new law, despite the fact that their main assets are not liquid, and that their liquid assets fall well below the operating payment threshold stated in the first draft of the Bill.
We recommended that the definition of “small society” be amended to increase the financial thresholds for what constitutes a small society. In response, the Select Committee said that it was concerned that “... the Bill as introduced could place an unnecessary compliance burden on smaller societies”. As a result, the Select Committee has amended clause 96(2)(b) of the Bill.
(The definition of a "small society" has been amended by the Select Committee)
This is a major improvement on the draft legislation to the direct benefit of around 60% of all registered incorporated societies, a large proportion of which are sport clubs. You can read the Association’s full Media Release, by clicking here.
Meanwhile, The Bill Has A Second Reading ...
The Second Reading of the Incorporated Societies Bill is now underway in Parliament. Both the Labour and ACT political parties have directly referenced the Association’s written and oral submissions. While there is no doubt the Bill will pass into law, as noted above significant amendments have been made to lessen its impact.
ACT’s Sport & Recreation spokesperson, Damien Smith, noted that (directly referencing our submission) the Bill has "... become something of a monster for something that, I don't think, societies are going to really understand”, adding that “... the Bill itself is just like a Jeffrey Archer novel. It's got six parts, 41,000 words, and it's almost like a novel.”
Meanwhile, Labour's Andew Little noted that (as a result of the Select Committee's amendments arising from the Association's submission) ."... hundreds of amateur sports clubs, in particular, around the country won't be required to hire an accountant and pay the associated fees." Both comments are supportive of the Association's advocacy role and demonstrate that we can influence our legislators through the parliamentary process.
You can read the full transcript from Hansard of the Second Reading of the Incorporated Societies Bill on Tuesday, 9 November, by clicking here.
Further National Sport Club Survey (NSCS) Insights Available ...
Five insight sheets from the 2021 National Sport Club Survey are now available.
To date, (in addition to an overview of the survey results), insight sheets have been published on: incorporated societies; the Auckland region and female-friendly environments; You can access these insight sheets from the Association’s web-site, by clicking here, or by following the survey Twitter feed, @nscs_nz.
Saving A Tennis Club From Becoming A Statistic ...
As a sports journalist, RNZ's Bridget Tunnicliffe has done a few stories over the years about the decline of sports clubs. Now she’s part of one that is fighting for its survival. Bridget is a member of the Newlands-Pararangi-Tennis Club in Wellington, which was first incorporated in 1954.
(A century ago, only Rugby Union clubs had more registered members than Tennis clubs)
Records suggest that the club first emerged in the mid-1930’s and nearly 90 years later efforts are being made to grow its membership base. You can read Bridget’s story about the importance of the club to community life in Wellington’s northern suburbs, by clicking here.
(The Newlands-Paparangi Tennis Club on Black Rock Road in Wellington)
Association Lends Support To Deaf Rugby ...
The Association was pleased to assist a local sport organisation regain its incorporated status this week, following its involuntary dissolution in August this year. The Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union was originally founded in 1993 and first incorporated in 2106, “,,, to promote the participation of deaf persons in rugby activities and support the growth and performance of the sport of competitive deaf rugby”. Of the 27 national championships played since the New Zealand Deaf Rugby Union was formed, the CZDRU has won seven national titles.
A change in society officers resulted in financial statements not being filed in accordance with the relevant regulations. Noting the communication challenges in resolving the issue, the Association worked with the society’s secretary, Jamie Kuklinski in liaising with the Registrar and filing the required information to enable CZDRU's incorporated status to be restored.
(The CZDRU is a member of the New Zealand Deaf Rugby Union)
Pilot Programme To Be Discussed With Companies Office ...
The widespread incidence of involuntary dissolution of incorporated amateur sport clubs has been well documented by the Association over many years and – (as evidenced by the preceding story) – is a common occurrence creating anxiety and alarm in equal measure for those clubs affected and their volunteers.
Following discussion with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment last week, the Association will now meet with the Companies Office to discuss a pilot programme through which we can proactively assist clubs faced with involuntary dissolution to meet their regulatory obligations and avoid losing the protections (and benefits) of their incorporated status.
From The Archives …
FENCING
EVENING STAR, ISSUE 22918, 28 MARCH 1938, PAGE 4
NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION INCREASING POPULARITY OF SPORT
CHRISTCHURCH, Mar. 26.
“A New Zealand Amateur Fencing Association was formed at a meeting in Christchurch this morning, which was attended by delegates from 14 swords’ clubs throughout the Dominion. Sir Cyril Ward said the existence of-so many clubs spoke well for the popularity of fencing as a sport, and a parent body was necessary, the intention being ultimately to conduct provincial and Dominion championships.
Mr E. C. Levvey said there was no reason why the association should not look further afield to honours in Empire and international contests. It was suggested that New Zealand championships should be held in Wellington in the Centenary year.”
While Sir Cyril Ward (2nd Baronet Ward of Wellington) and Ernest Levvey were both instrumental in the formation of the New Zealand Amateur Fencing Association, it’s Ernest Levvey’s daughter Yvonne, who is the subject of this week’s article.
Yvonne Mary Dansey Levvey was born on 22 November 1911, the daughter of Ernest Charles and Agnes Louise Levvey. The family lived at "Simtola" in Knowles Street, St. Albans, Christchurch. A former Canterbury College representative swimmer, in 1938 she won the inaugural New Zealand women’s foil (fencing) championship as Captain of the Canterbury A team. The championships were held at Christchurch’s Radiant Hall on Kilmore Street and featured 30 entrants from Auckland, Wellington, Nelson. Invercargill, and Christchurch.
(Yvonne Levvey (left), shows her pleasure at winning the 1938 NZ women's championship)
Fencing as a competitive sport was first introduced to New Zealand in 1930, coinciding with its introduction to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles that year. The "Canterbury College Fencing Club" and "Christchurch Swords Club" were both formed in 1930, the former six months before the latter. Yvonne joined the Canterbury College Club and in 1932 she was the Club Captain and a member of the Club Committee.
By 1936, the sport had grown rapidly throughout the country. Auckland had two clubs, Hamilton two, and Gisborne one. Palmerston North and Masterton had one each. Wellington had three, Nelson one, Christchurch two, while Ashburton, Timaru, and Invercargill had one each.
(Yvonne Levvey, (inset and right) was an early talent in the sport of fencing in NZ)
Yvonne met her future husband Charles Ernest Purchase at the Christchurch Swords Club (CSC), where it was reported, they fought a "blind-fold bout", which may have been the catalyst for a fencing romance, resulting in marriage three years later on 5 August 1939. Yvonne joined the CSC in winning the club’s womens title in 1935 and 1937, before winning the inaugural women’s New Zealand title the following year. Charles became President of the club, while Yvonne served as honorary secretary.
Yvonne and Charles left New Zealand for Kampala in the "Protectorate of Uganda" in 1940 where Charles was appointed Administrator-General and then later Attorney-General. They subsequently went to British North Borneo (Brunei) in 1950 where they lived in Jesselton. Yvonne and Charles had two daughters. Yvonne Purchase died in 1998.
The Final Word ...
“There are some unintended consequences here that I don't think we've really thought through”.
(Damien Smith, ACT, comments on the Incorporated Societies Bill)