Commission supports trusts

Press, 16 August 1988, Page 40

Commission supports trusts

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KEVIN TUTTY

A national network of regional sports trusts moved a step nearer fruition yesterday with an announcement that the Hillary Commission will support their establishment.

Speaking in Whangarei, where a group is working to establish a trust, the commission chairman, Sir Ronald Scott, said the commission was convinced the trusts had an important role to play in the future development of sport throughout New Zealand.

Two regional trusts —

in Waikato and Otago — have operated successfully for several years under the management of former New Zealand cricket representatives, Glenn Turner (Otago) and John Parker (Waikato).

A Task Force was established in July last year to assess the viability of a network of trusts. Headed by the Mayor of Upper Hutt, Rex Kirton, the Task Force had equal representation from local government and sport. In its report released last June the Task Force recommended the commission provide funding in the first three years of

a trust’s operation to get it established. The Task Force recommends that 14 trusts be established and the boundaries for them be those set by the Local Government Commission. Another recommendation is that the Hillary Commission provides $65,000 annually for a minimum of three years. The money would cover the costs of administration of each trust. In addition it has asked that the commission provide a “one-off” grant of up to $lO,OOO to establish an office.

The Hillary Commission

will endeavour to obtain national sponsorship for the trusts, but each region will be expected to supplement the national sponsorship by obtaining local sponsors.

Objectives, which will be common to all trusts, have still to be finalised. In his address yesterday Sir Ronald said the Hillary Commission was unlikely to insist trusts should be clones of one another. “But there needs to be some common factors, especially if trusts are to be a vehicle through which money is directed to regional sport,” said Sir Ronald.