By David
I imagine every revolution begins as an individual thought that grows into a popular movement and matures into an irresistible force for change. Except, in this case, I do not believe I am the only individual who believes we have to change Miskimmin’s Swimming New Zealand. It’s a mess. Professional coaches, senior administrators and international swimmers have told me the path we are on is appalling. What can we do to change this madness?
Well, change is not going to be easy. Miskimmin’s Institute of Director pals drew up a new Swimming New Zealand constitution that consolidated power in the best tradition of a Soviet politburo. I know there will be readers who have already dismissed my opinion. “Of course,” I hear them say, “Peter Miskimmin would never allow the democratic heart of a New Zealand sport to be removed and eaten while the blood was still warm.” But that is what was done. And if you have doubts consider this.
Power in the new constitution ultimately lies in the hands of the Appointment Panel (AP). The AP is made up of five members, two of whom are appointed “by Sport NZ”. Two others are elected by the Regions. The fifth member is the SNZ Chairman who effectively is also a Sport NZ appointee. So, three of the five members of the AP owe their loyalty and their votes to Peter Miskimmin’s Sport NZ.
And why is the make-up of the AP so important. Well, the AP, (controlled by Miskimmin remember) controls the membership of the Swimming New Zealand Board. Get the idea. Miskimmin controls the AP. The AP controls the Board. The Board controls Swimming New Zealand – ipso facto, the resultant effect – Miskimmin controls Swimming New Zealand.
To remove any final doubts I had better clarify how the AP controls membership of the Swimming New Zealand Board. The Board has six members. Three members are appointed by the AP. The other three are elected by the regions BUT the candidates have to be pre-approved by the AP and only three candidates can stand for the three vacancies. Now that’s Miskimmin control on a communist Chinese scale. Just ask the citizens of Hong Kong.
And so just to reiterate the chain of command – Miskimmin, in the form of Sport NZ, controls the AP. The AP controls the Board. The Board controls Swimming New Zealand – ipso facto, the resultant effect – Miskimmin controls Swimming New Zealand.
And so having determined that the Miskimmin constitution transformed Swimming New Zealand into a wholly owned subsidiary of Sport NZ, how did Miskimmin protect his new found power. He did it by setting the bar for popular change impossibly high. Constitutional change requires a Special General Meeting (SGM). A SGM involves two things – a request by at least one third of the members of Swimming New Zealand and Board consent that the subject of the SGM is of “major importance”. If Miskimmin’s Board doesn’t like the subject matter, the SGM doesn’t happen.
Even if the topic of a SGM is approved every decision has to be passed by a two thirds majority of the membership of Swimming New Zealand; 11,552 votes from the 17,329 members. What this means is that as long as Miskimmin can control two big regions like Wellington and Waikato nothing gets approved. And there is little doubt that Miskimmin has an iron grip on the Wellington region. I suspect, if Miskimmin asked, Wellington would line up to vote against the abolition of slavery.
And so we know the Constitution has provided Miskimmin with the power to run the organization as he sees fit and has protected his power from change by the members. Democracy is discarded and will not be allowed back. Miskimmin’s constitution fits neatly into the dictionary definition of a dictatorship – “a form of government where political authority is monopolized by a single entity, and exercised through various oppressive mechanisms.”
But are there grounds for mounting a revolution? Has Miskimmin’s rule failed swimming so badly that there is cause for a popular uprising?
Well let’s do an audit of how well our rulers have performed. The table below sets out a list of the constitutional duties and responsibilities expected from Miskimmin’s subjects.
|
Constitutional Expectation |
Performance Reality |
|
Growth of the Sport including growth at Club level |
The number participating has declined in the past four years by 18% from 21,141 to 17,329. |
|
A coach development strategy |
This coach has never been spoken to by the Miskimmin crew – not once. |
|
A HP strategy supportive of performance |
NZ has just witnessed its fifth worst Commonwealth Games performance ever. |
|
A key stakeholder relationship strategy |
SNZ has just lost its principal sponsor – State Insurance. |
|
A multiyear funding strategy; |
SNZ is now totally dependent on government handouts. |
|
A commitment to transparency on all matters |
Board minutes are no longer published. Accounts no longer reveal salaries or employment perks. |
|
A commitment to ‘playing the ball, not the person’ |
Miskimmin’s appointed representative uses a SNZ Special General Meeting to call for the CEO of the Auckland Region to be sacked. |
|
Monitoring performance against budget |
Spending on swimming has declined. Spending on administration has dramatically risen. |
|
Addressing the viability and sustainability of SNZ. |
Membership fees are down to 6% of sales |
|
Monitoring regulatory compliance for SNZ |
SNZ have just been deregistered by the Charities Board for non-compliance. |
|
Fostering interaction with Regional Associations and Member Clubs. |
I guess that’s why the CEO of SNZ accepted an invitation to attend the Auckland Junior League but never turned up. |
|
Adopting a best practice performance culture |
Open water swimmers get left off national team lists and open water medalists are omitted from team results. |
|
Preparing annual KPIs and being accountable to Members for achievement of them; |
I’ve never seen an annual KPI for the performance of these guys. Have you? |
These are constitutional requirements. They have not been done. I would say that list is easily sufficient to begin a revolution. It is sad that the regions are not more proactive in holding those in power to account. The Auckland region looks hard and long at the number of officials at a swim meet, whether the club’s annual meeting was held on time and whether a parent has breached the sanctity of the pool deck. Being strict on these issues is right and proper. However, in terms of priorities, in terms of the health of the sport what is going on a 17 Antares Place is way more important. But is the Auckland Board; is the Board of any region doing anything about the disaster unfolding during their watch. I have never quite understood how I hear story after story about the constitutional misbehaviour of Swimming New Zealand and yet nothing is done. Right now Swimming New Zealand are demanding, right or wrong, good or bad, that all clubs have the same constitution and like sheep we all say, “Baaaa” and run to do as we are told.
Without question it is time to address the shortcoming of the management of Swimming New Zealand. It is time to call a Special General Meeting (SGM). Calling a SGM will require a request from 33% of the members. That’s a group like Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Southland, Counties and Nelson or Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Waikato. Forget Wellington. Their 2893 votes are going nowhere.
Four items of business should be addressed in the SGM.
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An explanation for the financial and management lack of constitutionally required performance and a specific plan to put both right.
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The disappearance of member’s democratic rights and a plan to alter the constitution to enable more regional oversight.
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The abolition of the plan to standardize all club constitutions.
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Closing the SNZ swim school in Auckland and converting it into a resource unit for all New Zealand swim coaches.
There’s the challenge Auckland. I’ll sort out nomadic parents at the pool if you address something that is really important to the sport of swimming.
