Grassroots to governance

What happens before a governance issue becomes a public crisis? Often, the warning signs are already there – weakening trust, poor information flow, blurred roles, unresolved issues and relationships under strain. 

Grassroots to governance: Director perspectives, sport governance research and sector evidence in Aotearoa New Zealand examines how these pressures are playing out across the sport system. Drawing on interviews with 19 chairs, directors, executives and sector leaders, alongside sport governance research, public reviews and club-level evidence, it looks beyond the headlines to what is happening inside and around sport boardrooms. 

The report finds a sector where governance expectations have grown faster than the management support, administrative capacity and funding available in some parts of the system. Boards are navigating competing pressures – member voice and organisational independence, community connection and commercial opportunity, integrity and safeguarding expectations, financial constraints, volunteer capacity and increasing public scrutiny. 

It also looks at what helps boards respond well: strong relationships, candid information, clear roles, effective chair–chief executive dynamics, thoughtful succession and governance practices that can identify weak signals before problems escalate. 

Download Grassroots to governance for practical insights, questions and perspectives on what strong sport governance requires now and how boards can prepare for what comes next. 

Download report