Office of the Minister for Sport and Recreation
Chair, Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee
SPORT AND RECREATION NEW ZEALAND: REAPPOINTMENTS AND
APPOINTMENTS OF THE CHAIR, DEPUTY CHAIR AND MEMBERS
Proposal
1
This paper outlines my intention to reappoint and appoint the following to the
Sport and Recreation New Zealand (Sport NZ) Board:
1.1
Raewyn Lovett, as a reappointment, as the Chair of the Sport NZ Board,
from the date of appointment to 31 October 2025; and
1.2
Duane Kale, as a reappointment, as the Deputy Chair of the Sport NZ
Board from the date of appointment to 31 July 2026; and
1.3
Robyn Cockburn, as a reappointment, as a member of the Sport NZ
Board from the date of appointment to 31 July 2025; and
1.4
Megan Campbell, as a new appointment, as a member of the Sport NZ
Board from the date of appointment to 31 July 2027; and
1.5
John Fiso, as a new appointment, as a member of the Sport NZ Board
from the date of appointment to 31 July 2027; and
1.6
Kathryn Irving, as a new appointment, as a member of the Sport NZ
Board from the date of appointment to 31 July 2027; and
1.7
Ken Laban, as a new appointment, as a member of the Sport NZ Board
from the date of appointment to 31 December 2026.
Background
2
Sport NZ was established under the Sport and Recreation New Zealand Act
2002. Its purpose is to:
2.1
develop and implement national policies and strategies for physical
recreation and sport
2.2
allocate funds to and provide advice and support for organisations and
regional bodies in line with its policies and strategies
2.3
promote and advocate the importance of participation in physical activity
by all New Zealanders for their health and well-being
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2.4
provide advice to the responsible Minister on issues relating to physical
recreation and sport.
3
Sport NZ receives public funding through Vote Sport and Recreation. It is
a Crown agent under the Crown Entities Act 2004 and is accountable for its
performance to the Minister for Sport and Recreation and to Parliament.
4
Appointments to the Board are made by the Minister for Sport and Recreation.
The Sport NZ Board must consist of at least five but not more than nine
members, including a Chair.
5
A list of the current membership of the Sport NZ Board is attached.
Comment
6
I intend to reappoint Raewyn Lovett as the Chair as she possesses the required
skills. I also intend to reappoint Duane Kale as the Deputy Chair and Robyn
Cockburn as a member, and to appoint as new members, Megan Campbell,
John Fiso, Ken Laban, and Kathryn Irving as they also have the skills and
experience for their intended positions.
7
These appointments fulfil appropriate succession planning for the Sport NZ
Board. The details of these intended reappointments and appointments are
outlined below:
Raewyn Lovett
8
Raewyn Lovett joined the Sport NZ Board in July 2018 and has been Chair
since 1 July 2023. She is a barrister and solicitor.
9
Ms Lovett has experience in a variety of governance roles in the sport and not-
for-profit sectors. She is the Chair of CHT Healthcare which operates aged
healthcare facilities in Auckland and Hawkes Bay, and chairs Dunedin Venues
Management Limited.
10
In 2018 Ms Lovett was appointed Co-Chair of the International Working Group
for Women in Sport. She has also chaired Quotable Value New Zealand,
Auckland Sport ‘Aktive’ Auckland, and Netball New Zealand.
11
Ms Lovett’s governance and leadership experience, and strong sporting
background make her suitable for the Chair role.
Duane Kale
12
Duane Kale is the current Deputy Chair. He won six medals and broke four
world records in swimming at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games. He was then
Team Manager at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics Games and Chef de Mission
for the New Zealand Paralympic Team at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012
Paralympics.
13
Mr Kale has taken on many lead roles in governance and compliance. In 2013
he was elected to the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board
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and four years later became Vice President. He was an elected member of
Paralympics New Zealand for eleven years and was appointed by the
International Olympic Committee to the evaluation commission for the 2024
Paralympic and Olympic Games. Mr Kale also had an extensive commercial
finance career as a Senior Manager at ANZ Banking Group.
14
Mr Kale brings insights from being a disabled athlete and is well respected in
the Paralympic community. He also has good governance experience, and
financial and investment knowledge which are appropriate for his roles.
Robyn Cockburn
15
Robyn Cockburn has been a member of the Sport NZ Board since 2021. She
has more than 25 years’ experience working as a consultant researcher,
facilitator and educator. She is the Director of Lumin, a consulting company
working with sport, arts and recreation organisations. She has significant
governance experience and is currently Chair of The Shift Foundation.
16
Ms Cockburn is a Co-Facilitator of the New Zealand Olympic Women’s Sport
Leadership Academy for retired women Olympians and a Teaching Fellow in
Museum and Heritage Studies at Victoria University of Wellington. She is an
accredited Recreation Professional and Fellow of the New Zealand Recreation
Association and Physical Education New Zealand.
17
Ms Cockburn offers deep knowledge and extensive networks in the play, active
recreation and sport sector. She has a strategic mindset and understands data.
She contributes to the active recreation role Sport NZ has and has a good
understanding of disability issues.
Megan Campbell
18
Megan Campbell is currently a board member of the Changing Minds
Charitable Trust, Chair of Te Puumanawa o Rototuna (The Peak) Recreation
Centre Trust and a Member of the notifications and complaints committee of
the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand.
19
Ms Campbell brings a wealth of governance experience in the sport, health and
education sectors. Her specific sports governance experience includes over
three years as a Trustee at Sport Waikato and as Chair of the Home of Cycling
Trust.
20
She also provides machinery of government expertise having been a
government adviser. If her intended appointment is confirmed she will provide
geographical diversity, sports governance and Crown sector knowledge to the
Sport NZ board.
John Fiso
21
John Fiso is currently Chair of Fiso Investment Group, Whitby Collegiate
School, and Pacific Health Trust. Former governance roles include being Chair
of New Zealand Universities and Student Rugby League Board and as a board
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Remuneration
32
The Sport NZ Board is classified as a Group 3a Level 4 governance board
under the Cabinet Fees Framework. The fee for the Chair is $32,000 per
annum, and the fee for the Deputy Chair is $20,000 per annum and for
members $16,000 per annum. These are all within the relevant fees’ framework
range.
Appointment process and consultation
33
I confirm that an appropriate process has been followed in considering the
proposed appointments of the Chair, Deputy Chair and members in terms of
the Public Service Commission’s appointments guidelines and the
requirements of the Crown Entities Act 2004. This has included all intended
new appointees undertaking detailed due diligence interviews which canvassed
the required skill sets and their suitability for the roles.
Conflicts of interest
34
I can confirm that appropriate enquiries concerning conflicts of interest have
been carried out, in accordance with the Public Service Commission’s
appointment guidelines and the Crown Entities Act 2004, to identify any conflict
of interest that could reasonably be identified.
35
Ken Laban is a sports broadcaster. He is acutely aware of his conflict of interest
responsibilities. If he is appointed to the board, he will work closely with the
lawyer Chair in this respect.
36
Many of the members have had involvement with various sporting codes. In the
event of conflict of interest issues occurring, Sport NZ has appropriate policies
in place that are consistent with PSC guidelines and the Crown Entities Act
2004. This includes all members updating their interests regularly and standing
aside from decision making, if necessary.
Timing and Publicity
37
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Sport NZ will release media
statements if the appointments are confirmed and once members are notified.
Recommendation
38
It is recommended that the Committee notes my intention to appoint the
following members of the Sport NZ Board:
38.1 Raewyn Lovett, as a reappointment, as the Chair of the Sport NZ Board,
from the date of appointment to 31 October 2025; and
38.2 Duane Kale, as a reappointment, as the Deputy Chair of the Sport NZ
Board from the date of appointment to 31 July 2026; and
38.3 Robyn Cockburn, as a reappointment, as a member of the Sport NZ
Board from the date of appointment to 31 July 2025; and
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38.4 Megan Campbell, as a new appointment, as a member of the Sport NZ
Board from the date of appointment to 31 July 2027; and
38.5 John Fiso, as a new appointment, as a member of the Sport NZ Board
from the date of appointment to 31 July 2027; and
38.6 Kathryn Irving, as a new appointment, as a member of the Sport NZ
Board from the date of appointment to 31 July 2027; and
38.7 Ken Laban, as a new appointment, as a member of the Sport NZ Board
from the date of appointment to 31 December 2026.
Authorised for lodgement
Hon Chris Bishop
Minister for Sport and Recreation
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