High performance could be split off

Sports Minister Murray McCully remains open to the idea of splitting high-performance sport from the umbrella of Sparc, making it a separate entity.

McCully told a recent sport and recreation sector conference that he was open to the idea of a clearer delineation between high-performance sport and the recreation sector, the two major arms of Sparc.

Whether that came about through splitting high-performance sport away from Sparc's control, or ring-fencing it within its current environment would become clearer after consultation with national sports organisations.

McCully said he wanted to take high-performance sport "to the next level", which could be achieved through a more structured high performance programme and greater certainty around funding.

However the NSOs spoken to by the Herald on Sunday could see little "upside" to separating recreation and high-performance sport.

Triathlon NZ national coach Greg Fraine, via email, said: "I am very happy with our relationship with Sparc and the way both parties are working to achieve our goals. I am of the opinion if it is working very well what is the need for change? I see no benefits, immediate or future."

BikeNZ high-performance manager Mark Elliott said he could not see a "heck of a lot of difference". His job was to come up with a strategic plan for his sport and sell that plan and the direction of his sport to Sparc to gain funding. "In terms of high-performance sport, we have autonomy anyway."

A spokesman for McCully said NSOs were still being canvassed for their views.

"The Minister is aware there are quite a few ideas out there about the most effective way to proceed and he wants to give people a chance to put forward their suggestions before he makes any decisions."

High-performance sport was allocated $38 million in this year's Budget, from a total of close to $67m for the sport and recreation vote. A new output class means this money is effectively ring-fenced. The total Vote Sport allocation is down from $75m in 2008-09. The cessation of Mission On ($15m) accounts for the difference, with Sparc left with close to $7m more for its core budget.

Sparc also receives revenue from the New Zealand Lotteries Grant Board. In recent years this has been $30.9m. The 2009-10 allocation will be announced shortly and is expected to be at a similar level. That money is invested into community sport and sport development and is not targeted for high-performance fields.

The Government is also set to launch a new initiative that will seek to increase the opportunities for school children to participate in organised sport. More resources are to be poured into schools and links between schools and clubs will be strengthened.

It has been a common complaint in the sports sector over the past decade that there are no longer the number of teachers and volunteers prepared to coach and manage school teams.

The initiative aims to increase the numbers of children in schools playing sport by directing resources into schools, clubs and sports-oriented community organisations, rather than marketing-driven programmes like Mission On.