ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the relationships and overlaps between policies and governance within the sport sector in Canada, New Zealand (NZ) and Australia. The focus of governance thus surrounds the process of steering networks of organisations that span different jurisdictions, levels of authority and institutional arenas. Regardless of its foundations, the concept of governance has much to offer in understanding sport. In large part, this is because sport is organised across public, private and non-profit sectors. Networks are a means of social coordination achieved not by rules or market signals, but by trust and negotiation among/between organisations. The governance of NZ’s sport system is largely directed from the centre. Structurally, the central agency Sport NZ is a crown entity, an arm’s length non-departmental body operating on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage. While the predominant policy influence into sport governance occurs at the national level, state and local government sport policy can also influence governance.
