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Sports administrator and former hockey international Peter Miskimmin has been appointed chief executive of Sparc.
He succeeds Nick Hill who stepped down on March 28 to return to the private sector.
Sport and Recreation New Zealand (Sparc) is the crown entity responsible for promoting, encouraging and supporting sport and physical recreation in New Zealand.
Miskimmin joined Sparc in late 2006 as general manager sector development after 17 years at New Zealand Post, where he was head of corporate sales.
Miskimmin has a wealth of experience as an athlete, administrator and coach.
A former captain of the New Zealand hockey team, he played 150 tests including at two Olympic Games and two World Cups and was twice named New Zealand Player of the Year.
Sparc chairman John Wells said today Miskimmin brought a great balance of commercial skills and government experience as well as an outstanding knowledge of the sport and recreation sector to his new role.
"Sparc has made significant progress since its inception seven years ago and with Peter's appointment, is very well placed to meet the ongoing challenges facing the sector."
Miskimmin has been a board member of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, the New Zealand Sports Foundation and Sparc as well as chairman of the Athletes Commission.
He has also been president of the Olympian Club of New Zealand since 2000.
" I'm incredibly proud and honoured to be given this opportunity," Miskimmin said.
"I'm really looking forward to working with our partners so we get the best outcomes for all Kiwis involved in sport and recreation.
"Whether it's getting children active, supporting volunteers or getting behind our world class athletes, Sparc has an important role to play."
The challenges ahead included working with sport and recreation organisations to improve governance and management capability, supporting community sport and recreation, identifying and developing talented pre-elite athletes and continuing to increase participation rates among New Zealanders.
" A really critical area of work will be forming new partnerships with other investors in the sector such as gaming trusts, community trusts and local councils to ensure we are collectively investing resources into the appropriate areas."
- NZPA
