Cycling New Zealand (CNZ) has received and fully reviewed the 2022 Cycling New Zealand & High Performance Sport New Zealand Inquiry and have made significant progress in considering its response and action plan.

Over recent weeks, CNZ has liaised with HPSNZ on their analysis and response to the Inquiry completed by Michael Heron QC, Dr Sarah Leberman MNZM, Genevieve Macky and Dr Lesley Nicol ONZM.

CNZ accept the recommendations in the Report and has committed to a comprehensive response. In doing so, CNZ reinforce their full commitment to ensuring a high-performance culture in their sport that is athlete-centred and upholds the highest standards of ethics, integrity and welfare.

“It is important, as we move forward, to reinforce our total commitment to the wellbeing and care of our athletes and performance staff, whilst continuing to strive for high performance results that inspire our cycling community and kiwis from across Aotearoa,” said Cycling New Zealand Chairman, Phil Holden.

Following the Inquiry announcement in May 2022, Kereyn Smith MNZM, was appointed as Transformational Director, and has been working with CNZ Board, staff, athletes and the wider stakeholders of CNZ to develop a comprehensive strategy and plan in response to the Inquiry.

A cornerstone of the response is the commitment to establish a five-member steering committee to provide oversight and monitoring in the implementation of the recommendations.

“Today is a milestone in our planning process, in that we are delighted to announce that the Cycling Integrity Steering Committee will be established and will be chaired by the Hon Kit Toogood QC. He has recently completed sitting as a High Court Judge for more than 11 years. He will bring a wealth of experience, integrity and mana to the committee,” says Smith.

Toogood is a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a foundation Deputy Chair of the New Zealand Sports Tribunal, and has considerable experience in mediation, arbitration, and investigations.

He will take up the role of independent chairperson, appointed by CNZ and endorsed by Sport NZ. Toogood will be joined by two athlete representatives and a representative each from Sport New Zealand and Cycling New Zealand. The Committee will be fully appointed in the coming weeks.

The Draft Terms of Reference for the Cycling Integrity Steering Committee will be shared with impacted stakeholders with their input important in ensuring the committee best serves the needs of the sport. The steering committee will be in place by September 2022 and will approve an Inquiry Recommendation Response Action Plan soon after. The Draft Terms of Reference can be found in the folder - https://www.cyclingnewzealand.nz/about-us/cnz-and-hpsnz-independent-inquiry .

“CNZ has been fully focussed on accelerating the necessary changes within its high performance programme since late 2021. Good progress has been made, with a number of improvements in place that are already building a more positive high performance environment,“ says Smith.

CNZ’s high performance athletes are currently in the final preparations for the Commonwealth Games and soon after will quickly turn their attention to qualifying processes for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.