From the CEO

Kia Ora,

The 17/18 financial year is best summarised as a year of realising opportunities. During the year, we focused on tactics to move towards the Strategic Plan 17-21, against the backdrop on ‘Vision 2030’– which is a long-term picture showing what the sector is aiming to achieve.

As we worked though the 12-month period, there were a number of developments that placed community needs in magnified view. For example, liaison in Edgecumbe after the flooding, working with women and girls in rural areas on their community sport and recreation needs and working with cycle groups in Tauranga highlighted the need for support to strengthen the role of cycle leaders.

We also continue to collaborate with essential community stakeholders. From DHB’s, to Energy Trusts, to Sport New Zealand and schools, we maintained a focus on the importance of partnership to achieve outcomes. To that end, our close relationship with the BayTrust is central to our planning. In 17/18, we began a dialogue with BayTrust about a long-term strategic relationship that placed the Bay of Plenty community at the centre of thinking – we believe the efforts placed into this will be seen from the 18/19 year.

• The following new projects started last year and are now progressing well:
  • The Bay of Plenty Spaces and Places Strategy, in collaboration with the councils of Bay of Plenty and Sport NZ, is progressing well, with a number of essential regional and sub-regional projects underway.
  • A Positive Sporting Environment project – in collaboration with regional sport organisations has been launched as ‘Lead the Cheer’.
  • Older adults physical activity programme known as Keep on Your Feet – an initiative with ACC about physical activity for older adults is working well across Western and Eastern Bay of Plenty.

As mentioned in last year’s annual report, we have adapted our Tauranga office space to embrace both more modern ways of working and technology. The Tauranga office footprint remained unchanged, but activity based work style approaches have been embedded into the functionality of the physical environment. As an organisation that is often aiming to change people’s behaviours, we believe this development is important to both our continued effectiveness and culture.

Thanks must go to the Sport Bay of Plenty board, a group of dedicated volunteers. The board completed a full recruitment and now have eight members, a well-balanced board with diversity of thought, skill set and background. Paul Wollaston has continued to Chair with a reliable and robust approach to governance.

The Sport Bay of Plenty team are essential to both understanding the community and delivering outcomes for the organisation. They are always keeping it real, leading the way and showing how a one-team approach can gain results. During the 17/18 year particular thanks to our two long standing Senior Leaders – Catherine McCulloch and Melanie Short who spearheaded excellent outcomes with professionalism.

Ngā Mihi Nui,

Heidi Lichtwark, CEO

Click here to visit the Sport Bay of Plenty website