From the Chairperson

Bay of Plenty provides the perfect backdrop to encourage More People to be More Active, More Often.

Recreationally, we are blessed with magnificent natural facilities which provide ample opportunity for all types of recreation in this region, as well as an excellent range of sports facilities, fields and amenities. All of these are extremely well-resourced and maintained by all our local councils and reflect how sport and recreation is integral to the fabric of this region.

In yet another busy year, we were delighted to sign off on the Vision 2030 and the 2017-2021 Strategic Plan. We have also seen the implementation of the Spaces and Places Strategy, enhancement of communication tools including a refreshed website, and the initiation of an office refresh project that should enhance the working experience and communication channels for our staff.

As a board, it is great to go through this process, and have a clear and accountable direction for the next three years.

Financially, we continue to be in a strong position. While reporting a small deficit this year, this is smaller than what was budgeted, due to the ongoing prudent management of funds by the senior management team. The organisation continues to maintain a prudent balance of reserves while still ensuring funders and partners can be assured that their contributions are being utilised in the best possible way.

I would like to acknowledge the contribution of all our partners including Sport New Zealand, the Local and Regional Authorities, BayTrust, TECT, RECT, District Health Boards and Primary Health Organisations in the Bay of Plenty regions, along with the many schools and sports clubs we work with.

In particular, it is also important to acknowledge the many volunteers that continue to serve sport in the region. They often reflect the needs of the athletes that participate, who would struggle without their support and dedication.

We have seen a number of changes to the Board this year. Firstly, I am indebted to outgoing Chairman, Grant Utteridge, for steering the organisation as Chairman for the past eight years and contributing to the fantastic shape it is in today. We also said farewell to Graeme Young, who had come back for a second stint in the organisation, Paul Owen and Mary-Ann Nixon.

We had the pleasure of welcoming Vaughan Bidois and Richard Gee during the year, as well as Tom Elvin and Brian Pointon, who joined us after the date of this report. All board members have provided invaluable input into the direction of the organisation, and their passion is a pleasure to work with.

Finally, as a board, we are fortunate to have a great team of staff engaging with the community daily, exceptionally well-led by our Chief Executive Heidi Lichtwark. We appreciate how passionate they all are about their roles and the positive impact they offer to the Bay of Plenty community.