The service was set-up in February 2021 to provide a safe environment for those in the high performance system to raise a complaint, issue or dispute and have it resolved in a timely manner. The service is also open to community sport and recreation.
Immediation NZ runs the service, meaning it is wholly independent of High Performance Sport NZ, Sport NZ, NSOs and other sporting bodies.
Anyone can raise a complaint – free of charge – which will be assessed by a lawyer from the triage team. Some matters may be resolved through triage or early mediation, while others may be referred to the expert panel, comprised of many of the country’s top sports lawyers and mediators. Counselling services are also available throughout the process at no cost.
The service also offers a Te Ao Māori resolution pathway, providing people with a choice to address and resolve their matter in a culturally relevant and meaningful way for them as well as a fully-accessible service.
Find out more about the SRCMS here: Sport & Recreation Complaints & Mediation Service New Zealand (sportsmediationservice.org.nz).
