• The Sport Integrity Commission is investigating Yachting NZ after complaints about cultural and athlete welfare issues.

• The investigation follows Yachting NZ’s own review, which highlighted cultural challenges and leadership concerns.

• High Performance Sport NZ recently increased funding for sailing, despite the ongoing investigation.

By Dana Johannsen of RNZ

The Sport Integrity Commission has launched an investigation into Yachting NZ following a raft of cultural, athlete welfare and conduct complaints.

The commission, Te Kahu Raunui, informed complainants on Friday that it was satisfied there “appears to be a threat to integrity, and that opening an investigation is in the public interest”.

In a statement to RNZ released shortly thereafter, the agency’s chief executive Rebecca Rolls confirmed the move.

“The commission can confirm that we are initiating an investigation into Yachting NZ. This investigation will allow us to determine whether the allegations can be substantiated,” said Rolls.

“We cannot comment further at this time about the nature of the complaints.”

The investigation, instigated under section 32 of the Integrity Sport and Recreation Act, is set to be the first high-profile test of the new agency’s powers.

A YNZ spokesperson said the national body is aware of the investigation but is unable to comment at this time.

The announcement of the investigation comes just days after YNZ released the findings of its own review of the past Olympic cycle, dubbed Project Arotake.

The YNZ evaluation, led by independent appointee Kereyn Smith, acknowledged the sport’s proud legacy as one of New Zealand’s most successful Olympic sports.

Emirates Team New Zealand celebrates winning the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona, Spain. Photo / www.photosport.nz

However, her evaluation revealed several challenges to the sport, including cultural issues, a lack of transparency, and “discrepancies between stated values and actual behaviours within Yachting New Zealand”.

Smith also reported there was a perception that the sport’s leadership “operates within a traditional paradigm, which may not fully embrace modern, inclusive or innovative approaches”.

This lack of confidence in YNZ leadership extended to concerns about the review process initiated by the national body, leading several in the sailing community to elevate their concerns directly to Te Kahu Raunui.

RNZ reported last week that the new agency has received at least five separate complaints against YNZ.

One complainant, Bruce Trotter, wrote to the commission to raise his concerns about what he perceived to be a lack of independence, transparency and integrity of YNZ’s evaluation.

The national body has since publicly released Smith’s full report.

‘These issues are serious, systemic and cannot be ignored’

Other complaints broadly encompass leadership, cultural and athlete welfare issues, ranging from allegations of inconsistent and unsafe selection processes to claims of serious misconduct among athletes and staff.

It is not believed any current athletes in YNZ’s high-performance programme are among the complainants.

Trotter, who spoke out about YNZ’s “deeply troubling process issues” earlier this year in the wake of several messy selection disputes for the Paris Olympics, said he welcomed the news the commission had opened a formal investigation.

“This unprecedented move confirmed what many of us have been saying for years – these issues are serious, systemic and cannot be ignored.

“I encourage anyone with relevant experiences – everyone who’s been too scared to speak out for fear of reprisal – to come forward and contribute to the commission’s investigation.

“This is a pivotal moment for our sport, and we all have a role to play in protecting our athletes and securing a better future.”

Rolls also encouraged anyone who would like to raise a concern or come forward with a complaint to approach the commission through its confidential channels.

The revelation the commission had opened an investigation into YNZ comes at an awkward time for High Performance Sport NZ (HPSNZ), which last week announced a boost in funding to the sport.

Sailing was one of the big winners in HPSNZ’s investment announcement for the Los Angeles Olympic cycle, with its annual funding increasing from $3.98 million to $4.2m.

New Zealand won two sailing medals at the Paris Olympic Games – silver to Isaac McHardie and Will McKenzie in men’s skiff, and bronze to Micah Wilkinson and Erica Dawson in the mixed multihull class.

HPSNZ’s investment strategy, unveiled in early 2021 following several damning reviews into the country’s elite high-performance environments, introduced athlete welfare objectives in its funding agreements with sports.

- RNZ