By David
Regular readers of this blog will be less than surprised to hear that we do not approve of the management structure the Miskimmin crew has imposed on Swimming New Zealand. Whatever the sport, Miskimmin is committed to the centralist model of control. Swimming, in the form of the Coalition of Regions, did not want that form of governance. But Miskimmin and Chris Moller were better at the political game. They used a Review of the sport to outmanoeuvre the Coalition and push through a new constitution. That constitution is pure centralism. Miskimmin and whoever he appoints to run Swimming New Zealand own the organisation, lock, stock and barrel.
It is a huge irony that the centralist misbehaviour, called Project Vanguard, that spawned the birth of the Coalition of Regions was mild compared to the “autocratic” state Miskimmin and Moller have imposed. As so often happens, the vanquished end up in a worse position than they were at the beginning. Surrender was unconditional. Miskimmin and Moller won and exacted full measure.
The expression of their ownership took its final form in the publication of a new Regional Constitution. Every Region is compelled to adopt Miskimmin’s new Constitution. It can be rejected but the agreed price of rejection is expulsion from the organisation. A combination of three documents cedes control of swimming to Sport New Zealand and whoever they tap to be on the Swimming New Zealand Board.
- The new Constitution of Swimming New Zealand
- The new Constitution of each Region
- The Swimming New Zealand Code of Ethics
Clauses and provisions in these three documents consolidate power into the centre. Here is a small sample of clauses that transfer power from the Regions to Peter Miskimmin’s Swimming New Zealand Board.
Swimming Region is bound by, and must observe the rules and decisions of Swimming NZ.
Swimming Region must assist and support the operation of Swimming NZ
Swimming Region will work with Swimming NZ to support and deliver the Whole of Sport Plan including:
Implementing Swimming NZ’s facilities plan;
Complying with the policies and standards set by Swimming NZ;
Striving to achieve the KPIs for its Region set by Swimming NZ
Swimming Region shall support and work with the Board and executive of Swimming NZ to
Build a culture of trust, collaboration and discipline for the Sport;
Act consistently with the Whole of Sport Plan, policies, standards and KPIs set by Swimming NZ;
Work with Swimming NZ for the benefit of the Sport;
Comply with the Sport funding strategy;
Work with Swimming NZ as it sets the Region’s KPIs;
Pay any Amount owed by it to Swimming NZ;
Abide by all rules, lawful requests or directions made by Swimming NZ.
The following requirements must be met in regard to member’s conduct: To not speak to any media in a negative way regarding Swimming NZ Inc.
A member disobeying any rule of SNZ is liable to expulsion as the Board in its sole discretion imposes.
A Regional Association must adopt the Regional constitution prescribed by SNZ.
I am sure you get the idea. The Regions are obliged to accept a Whole of Sport plan they have never seen; KPI’s imposed by Miskimmin’s men; funding strategies set from above; a Constitution prescribed by SNZ; a facilities plan that may be wholly inappropriate for their region; and best of all pay any amount SNZ demands.
The prohibition on members speaking to any media is blatantly illegal. What else would you call the SNZ rule when Clause 14 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 says, “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form.”
Some readers may be thinking all this is pretty dull; the dry and esoteric stuff of lawyers and academics. You may even be asking, “What’s this got to do with swimming?”
Well, I guess the point is, there is usually nothing too bad about people like Miskimmin, Moller, Layton and Renford wanting to amass power. I prefer a federal structure but these four decided they wanted centralized power and that’s what they have delivered. The key point now is, how are they going to use their power? Power in itself is not a problem – the abuse of power is an assault on us all.
So, will those who have accumulated power at Swimming New Zealand use it wisely? Time will tell. No I mean that. Time really will tell us whether those who now control the sport are able to use their power wisely.
They must not be prejudged but the signs are not good. Do you know, in Auckland, we have a swimming official called Jo Draisey – she will be incensed at being mentioned in Swimwatch. Without Jo Draisey though I shudder to think how swim meets in Auckland would survive. She puts out the timekeeper’s chairs, installs touch pads and runs the results room. Jo Draisey is at every meet, from the most humble Level Three competition to the National Championships; there is nothing elitist about her contribution. Jo Draisey is exceptional but many Regions have people like her. Beth Meade from Hawkes Bay/Poverty Bay was one. Jeannie Sibun from Counties/Manukau fits the mould. I’m sure you know the sort of volunteer I mean. One of the first things the four men who now run SNZ did with their new power was to impose an annual membership fee on the Jo Draisey’s of New Zealand swimming. Anyone capable of that abuse is capable of anything. Shake their hand by all means but count your fingers afterwards.
The call to dump Brian Palmer and the Auckland Board, the demand to isolate me because I write a swimming blog and the history of altering meeting minutes suggest there are bad things ahead. At Swimwatch we will be watching. New Zealanders do not take kindly to bureaucrats who abuse power. When it happens we will write about it. We will use the Sports Tribunal, the Courts, whatever means we can to expose “malfeasance in office” or “official misconduct.” Swimming New Zealand – you have won power. Our advice is that you use it with caution and wisdom.
