Summarised by Centrist
The government has revised its approach to transgender participation in community sports, moving from a strict policy to a more flexible “watching brief.”
Initially, a hardline policy threatened to cut funding for non-compliant sports bodies, but Sports Minister Chris Bishop is now promoting a more flexible approach – with exceptions for fairness and safety for women.
Feedback from Sport NZ advocates for bespoke policies tailored to each sport, opposing a “one-size-fits-all” solution. Some sports, like Boxing and Triathlon NZ, have created open categories, while others, like NZ Rugby League, enforce participation based on birth gender from age 13.
Some trans athletes fear they will be forced to compete against men or sidelined altogether as a result.
Editor’s note: Family First has released a statement criticising this revised stance, arguing that the government is ignoring safety and fairness, particularly for women.
CEO Bob McCoskrie points to strong public opposition, citing a Curia Market Research poll showing 68% of New Zealanders do not support boys who identify as girls playing on girls’ teams. Family First advocates for policies that ensure athletes compete according to their biological sex or the creation of a mixed category to maintain fairness and safety in sports.
