An open letter to Sport New Zealand
I asked ChatGPT – What does Sport NZ do for referees?
The answer motivated me to write to the Chief Executive of Sport New Zealand.
Here’s ChatGPT’s Short Answer:
“Sport NZ provides far less direct support for referees/umpires than for players or coaches.”
“Officials get minimal funding - mostly indirect via National Sport Orgs, free guides, anti-abuse resources, and tiny shares of scholarships.”
“Athletes dominate high-performance investments ($131m+ over cycles, $50k/year grants, 77%+ scholarships). Coaches receive dedicated programs (e.g., accelerators, national connection forums, training programs, regional development staff) and 2–5× more scholarships/funding.”
The reality on the ground:
Players win gold
Coaches get paid
Refs get abused
And there are no ring-fenced budgets or paid pathways to address rising shortages and sideline abuse.
How can this be?
Dear Raelene - Chief Executive for Sport New Zealand,
My name is Bevan Nichol. I live in Hamilton and am involved in the development of sport in both a personal and professional capacity.
I’m an internationally graded hockey umpire and have been heavily involved in the development of officiating in my local, domestic, and national hockey communities.
I work for a Charitable Trust called the Waikato Institute for Leadership and Sport Studies as the Sport Development Lead where I deliver programmes that support people, schools, and organisations who help make sport happen.
In my time spent as a volunteer and in my work, I see firsthand a growing need for more resourcing, training, and support for referees and umpires in New Zealand.
The level of investment in referees and the priority given to them by Sport New Zealand and Regional Sports Trusts could not be any lower, despite their critical role in delivering safe, fair, and positive sport experiences for all participants.
Today I’m writing to you to ask these questions:
What does Sport NZ do to support referees/umpires?
Does Sport NZ see kiwi sport referees/umpires as a priority in its work? If so, how, and by who?
What dedicated or ringfenced investment, development opportunities, or support mechanisms exist?
I ask these questions provocatively, because I suspect the honest answers will reveal little to no support - but also with genuine intent: to spotlight our overlooked community of volunteer referees and umpires, and to hold onto the hope that our future in sport might, one day, shine a little brighter.
As a specific example which speaks to my personal frustration, in 2025/26, Sport New Zealand are investing in a ‘Trainer Programme’ for people building systems that support coaches, and the ‘Coaching For Impact’ programme, which is open for sport coaches nationwide.
It’s my understanding that candidates who work on developing training systems for referees and their coaches are not welcome on these programmes.
This to me is an example of Sport NZ’s failure to outlay any meaningful prioritization, investment, support or development for referees and umpires in our communities, like it does for other participants in our games.
Thank you, and any member your team who reads this, as it is drafted with the utmost respect for you as a leader, and for the work Sport NZ does in our country.