ABSTRACT
This chapter examines what we might learn from recent reviews of national sports organisations (NSOs) to promote equity and increased opportunities for women in Aotearoa New Zealand sport. Recent events have revealed concerning behaviour in some NSOs, particularly with regards to gender. Consequently, independent reviews have been conducted in a number of sports including cricket, football, netball, rugby, hockey, triathlon, rowing cycling and swimming. Analysis of the reviews reveal some early similarities including a gendered focus, allegations of bullying, and attention on coaches. There are also some notable differences between sports. With the October 2018 release of the government’s new strategy on girls and women’s sport, it is timely to understand the processes NSOs are adopting to implement the recommendations from these reviews and encourage dialogue within and across sport organisations to improve the experiences of women in sport. To establish the context for the current space of New Zealand sport, recent historical events and how this influenced women’s involvement in sport will be explored. This chapter will examine how these events have influenced the purpose of national sports organisations, the impact of a “winning at all costs” mentality and the power dynamics that have formed as a consequence.
