Auckland RST response to the Greater Auckland Council

The Regional Sport Trust Alliance (Sport Auckland, Counties Manukau Sport, Harbour Sport, Sport Waitakere) and ARPASS ( Auckland regional physical activity and sport strategy) have been monitoring developments and have facilitated two workshops with regional sport organisations. Some of the outcomes from these workshops have been:

1. The need for sports to think regionally and deliver locally. For example : sports that have more than one regional sport organisation across greater Auckland will need to align strategy , consider economies of scale and be consistent in their communication with the single Greater Auckland Council.
2. The need for the new Council to consider better ways in managing relationships with Regional Sport Organisations. For example: A sport may currently deal with Council officers in Parks and Reserves, Events, Community Services and Leisure Strategy and policy. It may be preferable to have an organisational structure with a single point of liaison.
3. Regional Sport Organisations may wish to participate in a “sport council “where sports using similar facilities meet regularly to advise and advocate. For example: all sports that use grass fields; or all sports that are indoor aquatic; all sports in the open space environment; all sports using indoor courts.
4. The new Council will need to determine a policy on sport and recreation facility charges , such as sports fields and swimming pool lane costs.

In regards to the question of one large Regional Sport Trust, each current regional sport trust exists to support their local communities, are unique and operate differently in response to their community. The RST’s are delivering some programmes across the region as an alliance, to achieve economies of scale, and there are moves to consider more regional strategies and local delivery.
For information on the Auckland Transition Agency go to: www.ata.govt.nz