IHNZ Update #14

Posted August 06, 2020

Important Dates - Nationals 2020/InterRegionals 2020

• Registrations and IHNZ player affiliation fees ($20 per player) were completed by 31 July 2020. 
• Dispensation Requests must be received by 7 August 2020 for Nationals and 31 August 2020 for InterRegionals.  The forms and a brief on how the process works has been distributed to all clubs.  
• Nationals Team Entry Forms have been distributed to clubs and are due 12 August 2020.   
• Once received a draft draw will be issued.  The draw will be in line with the block schedule released in July.
• The Event Notices for both Nationals and InterRegionals have been updated and distributed to clubs and the IHNZ Website.

The main changes include:

• Masters age grade being consistent at 35 years at both events
• Removal of the Open Senior wording
• Clarity around the Youth Women and Junior Women and Junior Men age grades
• Rule 5.6  - this rule remains 

Gary Toa (Nationals 2020) and Sue Gillespie (InterRegionals 2020) will  be forming committees to help run the respective events and assume coordination roles on behalf of the IHNZ Board.

AGM

Thank you to all those clubs and delegates who attended the 2020 AGM in Auckland.

The minutes for both meetings are currently being finalised and will soon be available for distribution.

The Financials presented at the AGM were a draft set received from the Auditor, a final set will also be circulated to clubs as soon as possible.

Mt Wellington Invitational/Bauer Cup

Mark in your diary!

The 2020 Mt Wellington Invitational/Bauer Cup was postponed due to COVID-19.  

Mt Wellington Panthers have advised this tournament will now be going ahead as follows:

• 28 - 29 November   -  Junior Grades
• 4th (evening only) 5th, 6th December - Senior Grades

More information around team entry dates and costs to follow soon.

Oceanias Update

We have two outstanding refunds to process and then all Oceania refunds will have been finalised.

A few players have received an invoice that is still payable. Thanks to those who have sorted already - very much appreciated!  

Please remember payment must be arranged prior to Nationals as IHNZ has a no pay - no play policy.

Any player owing IHNZ and under significant financial hardship should contact gm@inlinehockeynz.org.nz. 

Uniforms are currently being collated and will be issued to all players by their managers during their age grade block at Nationals. Please wear these with pride as you were selected to represent New Zealand even though you were unable to play Australia on this occasion.

Sport NZ Update

Sport NZ will shortly launch major new initiatives to help sport and active recreation bodies at all levels of the sector strengthen the measures they have in place around integrity issues such as child safeguarding, member protection, organisational culture, anti-corruption and competition manipulation.

IHNZ are also working to further develop their own policies and procedures  to align with this.   The new initiatives are the result of Sport NZ’s 2019 Sport Integrity Review Report, which involved significant consultation with the public and organisations at all levels of the sector.  

This also coincides with the resignation of the current CEO with a search both nationally and internationally for a replacement now taking place.

Sport Recovery Package

Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa – an activation fund to provide physical activity opportunities for tamariki and rangatahi. The fund aims to provide quality opportunities in play, active recreation and sport for young people who are missing out, particularly in higher deprivation areas and totals $68 million over four years ($34 million from the Recovery Package, $34 million from existing Sport NZ baselines). RSTs will administer the fund and provide more details closer to the fund opening date which is proposed for late August. 

National Partner support – bespoke assistance for national partners to reflect their specific circumstances. 

This fund of $25.407 million in the 2020/21 financial year will include:

• ongoing support for all national partners to help them reset and rebuild from the impacts of COVID-19
• support required by national partners to help them future proof their organisation and network – in early July Sport NZ will invite specific organisations to form the first wave of partners to test this approach (supporting the Strengthen and Adapt investment outcome)
• any support necessary for national clubs and leagues 
• any additional support that may be required by professional sports franchises to help them recover from the impact of COVID-19

Community Resilience Fund  – an expanded Community Resilience Fund (CRF) to provide short-term assistance to a broader range of organisations across the play, active recreation and sport sector. CRF will target support towards regional and local organisations to help them meet their operating costs for the period of July-September 2020. The maximum grant will be $25,000 per organisation and applicants will need to demonstrate the impact that COVID-19 has had on their organisation. CRF has a proposed budget of $10 million in the 2020/21 financial year.

Hardship Support - We know that cost is a barrier to participation. COVID-19 has exacerbated this for many whānau and made it harder for individuals and families to stay active. We are investing $3m to support and assist individuals and whānau experiencing significant financial hardship who, for a range of reasons, are unable to access play, active recreation and sport opportunities, ( transport, equipment, fees etc).

COVID-19

Whilst  there is no sign of community transmission to date,  we encourage everyone to please remain vigilant - remember the message that if you are feeling unwell to not attend training or games.

As usual, any questions or queries please forward to gm@inlinehockeynz.org.nz.

Stay safe all,  we hope you are all enjoying being back on skates!

Regards
IHNZ Board