Kia ora koutou,  

The Touch New Zealand Board, management and I thank each and all those that contributed to this integrity report, sharing their experiences within the Youth Pathways and Touch Blacks High Performance programmes.

Through the airing of challenges, opportunities, successes, disillusionments and expectations, we are able to gain insight and empathy for those experiences.

We can now develop changes and learnings to improve the programmes and experiences for current and future participants.

Thank you especially to the working group members (Dr Shane Edwards, Dr Tabitha Mackenzie, Kirsty Thompson, Finney Davis, Richard Mackenzie, Jamie Tong, and Grant Robertson) for the huge and mainly voluntary workload to listen, reflect, distil and write this important document.

Every participant wishes to succeed within every game, be included in every selection, and winning is the goal for any team, however that need to be complemented by Whanaungatanga (connection/belonging), Whakaute (respect) and Manaaki (wellbeing / caring relationships) so that Ngā Wheako (experiences) and interaction is enjoyable and positive. 

The Touch NZ Board has received the report and its recommendations and already made changes and investments in the P&HP sector for the forthcoming World Cup year, which will be announced over the next few months.

Additionally, to plan longer term projects during this next strategic cycle to work through the recommendations made for implementation in a meaningful and sustainable way including continuing opportunities for voice of the athlete. 

The Touch NZ 2023-2027 Strategic Plan will also be released soon as the guiding Pou (pillars) for the organisation as we reconnect with the world and each other in a more predictable and less disrupted way. 

Stephen Upton
Chairperson
Touch New Zealand 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT

Click here to read an update - January 2024

Article edited: Monday 8 April 2024