Lack Of Leaders In Amateur Codes A Concern For All Sporting Kiwis

31 Dec 2025, 11:59 by New Zealand Amateur Sport Association · SCOOP

The sudden departures of the Chief Executives of Netball New Zealand and Cricket New Zealand earlier this month, together with no new appointment yet announced to the vacant position of Chief Executive of New Zealand Rugby, represent a significant operational and leadership challenge for all three organisations, which will be of concern to all those who participate in these Kiwi cornerstone sports, “for the love of the game”.

With all three codes having faced on and off-field challenges over the past year, participants and supporters will be justifiably concerned that the focus of each organisation may have shifted away from the grassroots of each game, without which there is scant opportunity for commercial and long term competitive success at a global level.

The Association encourages the Boards of all three organisations to carefully review their respective Constitutions to ensure that their focus remains firmly on nurturing the grassroots of the games on which their success in the professional arena depends.

New Zealand sport has always been based on the ability of games to unite communities across socio-economic, cultural and geographical boundaries, with each of these three quintessential sporting codes requiring the appointment of new Chief Executives who are able to build and strengthen each organisation from the grassroots up.

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