New Zealand Football is proud to announce they are the first National Sports Organisation (NSO) to receive the Governance Mark for Sport and Recreation in New Zealand from Sport New Zealand.

The award was presented to the President of New Zealand Football, Deryck Shaw, by the Right Honourable Grant Robertson MP earlier today at a ceremony held at New Zealand Football’s headquarters in Auckland.

The Governance Mark for Sport and Recreation in New Zealand, which was launched in 2017, represents an organisation that is clear about its strategy and how it intends to fulfil the plan.

To receive the award, the Executive Committee of New Zealand Football demonstrated a considered process for development of strategy and an ongoing regime for monitoring efficacy of that strategy.

Accountability to stakeholders was evidenced through a planned programme of communication. The business of the organisation was considered to be conducted within a clear ethical framework.

Deryck Shaw said it was a huge honour to be the first National Sports Organisation to be presented the Governance Mark.

“On behalf of the Executive Committee of New Zealand Football, we are thrilled to receive this Governance Mark from Sport New Zealand and we believe it is just reward for all of the great work our team at New Zealand Football put into the sport,” said Mr. Shaw.

“We are proud to be one of the most popular team sports in New Zealand, with more than 150,000 registered footballers, and this recognition is confirmation of the great work happening at NZ Football and within our Federations and Clubs.

“We have a great plans set out in the Whole of Football and Beyond Football plans and we have a group of highly motivated people putting them into action. We’d like to thank all of the people in New Zealand who contribute to the success of football every year and make achievements like this possible.”

Sport New Zealand Chief Executive Peter Miskimmin commended New Zealand Football on being awarded the Governance Mark.

“Attaining the Governance Mark requires sporting bodies to demonstrate that their board is functioning to a high standard and following good practice, with processes in place for director recruitment, clarity on roles, well-structured meetings and a culture of external accountability,” said Mr. Miskimmin.

“National sport organisations have a key role in getting more New Zealanders active, developing talent, keeping communities strong and addressing issues that challenge the integrity of sport. Achieving the Governance Mark is a clear signal that New Zealand Football’s Executive Committee is well-positioned for the future.”

To gain the Governance Mark, New Zealand Football has been through a process of self-assessment, third-party review, governance development and reassessment.

The Governance Mark assesses the organisation’s alignment with the Governance Framework for Sport and Recreation in New Zealand.

That framework covers the key areas of: clarity and cohesion; people; boardroom processes; and integrity and accountability. The Mark award requires complete alignment with the mandatory elements of the framework and 80 percent alignment with the core elements.