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Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman has today announced two new appointments to the Sport New Zealand Board.

Wellington sport administrator, Paul Cameron, and Auckland sports medicine specialist, Dr Brendan O’Neill, have been appointed to the Board.

“I am pleased to welcome high-calibre appointees Paul Cameron and Dr O’Neill to the Sport NZ Board,” says Dr Coleman.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman says this weekend’s final of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup marks the end of a great three weeks of football.

“The FIFA U-20 World Cup draws to a close this weekend with Brazil taking on Serbia at Auckland’s North Harbour Stadium,” says Dr Coleman.

“New Zealanders have really got behind the tournament. Around 300,000 people have attended matches and a further 30,000 people visited fever pitch fan zones.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman has today announced two new appointments to the Drug Free Sport New Zealand Board.

Tim Castle and Dr John Mayhew have been appointed to the Board. Justice Warwick Gendall has been reappointed Board Chair, and Board members Stephen Cottrell and Sarah Ulmer have been reappointed.

“I am pleased to welcome Tim Castle and Dr Mayhew to the Drug Free Sport NZ Board. They are both high-calibre appointees who will bring significant knowledge and experience,” says Dr Coleman.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman has today officially opened Sport Central – a new sports office hub in Auckland which will see five sports organisations work more closely together.

The project has been led by Sport New Zealand, who will be joined in the new hub by Triathlon New Zealand, Hockey New Zealand, Aktive – Auckland Sport and Recreation, and College Sport Auckland.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman says North Harbour Stadium is well placed for the start of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

“The FIFA U-20 World Cup gets underway tomorrow with New Zealand taking on Ukraine in the first game,” says Dr Coleman.

“The tournament is a great opportunity for Kiwis to see the next generation of global football superstars.

“With a global TV audience of 170 million, the FIFA U-20 World Cup places New Zealand at the centre stage of world football for the next three weeks.”

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman will travel to Montreal next week to represent New Zealand and Oceania at the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Executive Committee.

“New Zealand athletes have an enviable reputation for being free of doping and we are committed to the global fight against doping in sport,” says Dr Coleman.

“Inclusion on WADA's Executive Committee is an opportunity for New Zealand to play a greater leadership role in the area of anti-doping.”

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman has today unveiled the FIFA Under-20 World Cup volunteer uniform at a football event in Auckland.

“Volunteers play a vital role in the successful hosting of world class sporting events like the FIFA U-20 World Cup,” says Dr Coleman.

“The uniforms launched today have a distinct New Zealand feel and the 1,500 volunteers wearing them around the country are going to look great.

Opening

It’s great to be here for Sport New Zealand’s annual sport and recreation conference – Connections.

I’d like to acknowledge Sir Paul Collins and Peter Miskimmin, and all of the other Chairs and CE’s here today. I’d also like to acknowledge the other speakers, including Dr Holly Thorpe who will be up next.

Following a hugely successful ICC Cricket World Cup, Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman says the countdown is now on for football’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

“The country has been gripped by the Cricket World Cup over the last six weeks, and while that’s now finished, the excitement is far from over,” says Dr Coleman.  

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman says the Black Caps have done New Zealand proud in the ICC Cricket World Cup.

Dr Coleman will be attending the public welcome home for the Black Caps this evening at the Cloud on Queens Wharf in Auckland from 6pm.

“The Black Caps have had a sensational run in the tournament. They have provided some unforgettable sporting moments and inspired the future generation of cricketers,” says Dr Coleman.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman today acknowledged the passing of rowing legend Sir Don Rowlands.

“Sir Don was an inspirational athlete and a highly successfully businessman,” says Dr Coleman.

“He won numerous accolades for his performances on the water. These included gold and silver Commonwealth Games medals and nine national rowing titles.

“His passion for rowing led him to help organise local events such as the Maadi Cup as well international events such as the Olympics. In 1981 he was awarded an Olympic Order medal.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman today met with his Australian counterpart Sussan Ley, Minister of Health and Minister for Sport.

“New Zealand has a strong relationship with Australia, and I look forward to working closely with my counterpart Minister Ley,” says Dr Coleman.

“We had a very successful meeting today, and we discussed a number of key issues including health system collaboration and preventative health, as well as sport.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman is encouraging people to head along to the ICC Cricket World Cup team welcomes organised by the seven New Zealand host cities.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman has praised last night’s ICC Cricket World Cup opening ceremony, saying it was a spectacular way to start New Zealand’s hosting of a major global sporting event.

“Christchurch put on an amazing show, creating an event that will be remembered for a very long time,” says Dr Coleman.

“With an estimated turnout of 60,000 to 70,000 people, the ceremony emphasised just how much Kiwis love cricket and how we get behind major international sporting events. 

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman is taking part in tonight’s 2015 FIFA Under-20 World Cup official draw in Auckland.

“New Zealand will be hosting some of the best under-20 football players in the world for 52 matches in Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin,” says Dr Coleman.

“The FIFA U20 World Cup is a great opportunity on the back of the Rugby World Cup and the ICC Cricket World Cup to boost New Zealand’s reputation for hosting major international sporting events.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman has taken part in a Cricket Smart lesson at Northcote Primary School in Auckland today.

“Cricket Smart is a new range of curriculum-based learning and teaching resources for primary and intermediate students in Years 1 to 8. It is a fun and interactive way to bring cricket into schools,” says Dr Coleman.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman is encouraging kids to sign up for a school sport and get all the benefits that come with it.

“With schools opening their doors for the start of another year it is a good time to think about getting active,” says Dr Coleman.

“I encourage parents and teachers to support their children to take part in all the opportunities schools have to offer – games, active play, outdoor education, physical education and sport.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman has today inspected Hagley Oval and met with tournament organisers ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup.

“Hagley Oval has undergone a huge transformation in recent weeks to make the grounds match-fit for the opening game. It is a credit to the tournament organisers and the wider team around them,” says Dr Coleman.

Hagley Oval will host the tournament’s first match, Black Caps v Sri Lanka, on 14 February. It is the first of three matches to be played on the grounds.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman paid tribute last night to New Zealand’s top rugby players and administrators at the annual New Zealand Rugby Union awards. 

“It has been another exceptional year for New Zealand rugby and I congratulate all the winners and finalists across all categories. They should be very proud of their contribution to rugby and to New Zealand,” says Dr Coleman.

“It is great to see the international success of our All Blacks and Black Ferns flowing through to increased numbers taking to the field.”

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes High Performance Sport New Zealand’s investment in national sport organisations for the next financial year.

“The investment decisions announced today by High Performance Sport New Zealand mean our top athletes will continue to make their presence felt on the world stage,” says Dr Coleman.

“It locks in the support our elite athletes need as they work towards success at key events next year and the 2016 Rio Olympics and Paralympic Games.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes the passing of the Crimes (Match-fixing) Amendment Bill in Parliament today.

“Match-fixing is a growing problem internationally and it is the number one threat to the integrity, value and growth of sport,” says Dr Coleman.

“In New Zealand we are not immune to this growing threat. The passing of this Bill is an important step in protecting the integrity of our sport. 

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman says it is important to recognise the role of sports volunteers as part of celebrating International Volunteer Day on Friday.

“Every year 750,000 Kiwis give 50 million hours of their time volunteering in sport,” says Dr Coleman.

“International Volunteer Day is a great opportunity to recognise the valuable and wide-reaching work that our volunteers in the sport sector do.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman paid tribute last night to the country’s top sports journalists, broadcasters and photographers at the annual Sir Terry McLean National Sports Journalism Awards. 

“Sport is a key part of our identity as New Zealanders and many of our greatest heroes have been sports people. The sports media play an important role in bringing to life the great stories that sport produces,” says Dr Coleman.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman today saw physical activity and nutrition programme Project Energize in action at Manaia View School in Northland.

“New Zealand has a growing obesity problem and projects like Project Energize can make a big difference,” says Dr Coleman

“We know that sport and good nutrition helps to keep kids healthy, and it helps them do better in the classroom. Project Energize wraps up all these factors in one package and it is delivering great results.