Questions and answers for the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Recreation Council
What will be the role of the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Recreation Council?
The Council is charged with:
- providing advice to SPARC about:
- developing a strategic sector-wide approach for outdoor recreation;
- promoting participation in outdoor recreation;
- developing greater capability in delivering outdoor recreation services;
- decisions about investment in outdoor recreation organisations; and
- promoting and disseminating research relevant to outdoor recreation.
- providing information and guidance to support specific programmes and interventions identified in the national outdoor recreation strategy;
- fostering improved collaboration and coordinated planning and practice within and between relevant sectors;
- managing relationships with key stakeholders in outdoor recreation and the process for sector consultation and input on outdoor recreation matters;
- raising the profile of the positive values and impact of outdoor recreation; and
- monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the outdoor recreation strategy.
The council may also advise on other matters that the Chief Executive of SPARC and the council agree will be required to achieve the objectives and tasks of the council.
Why is there a need for the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Recreation Council?
There is a strong call from the sector itself for the establishment of a body to provide the sector with leadership and to act as a unifying organisation.
SPARC undertook a review of the outdoor recreation sector over 2007/08 consulting a wide range of organisations. A subsequent discussion document published in July 2008 received 61 submissions from outdoor recreation organisations, territorial authorities, government agencies and departments and individuals.
A significant number of submitters including the New Zealand Recreation Association, Outdoors New Zealand, and Fish and Game New Zealand called for the creation of a new body to provide leadership on a coordinated strategy for outdoor recreation.
How was the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Recreation Council established and how will it operate?
The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Recreation Council has been established as an advisory committee by the Board of SPARC and does not have separate legal status.
Members of the council are appointed by the Board of SPARC. It is envisaged that the council will meet up to eight times per year.
The council membership was selected from candidates identified by an establishment committee which consisted of Rob Fisher (Chair), Dr Mike Boyes, Kerry Marshall and Kay Booth.
Council members will represent the diverse range of interests across the outdoor recreation sector and will be senior and respected members of the sector with knowledge and expertise in outdoor recreation. The sector may be consulted on appointments to the council.
The term will be for three years but members may be re-appointed for a further term(s). It is envisaged that, as a rule, members will serve for one or two terms.
Won’t the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Recreation Council duplicate the work of existing organisations?
No single existing organisation has the mandate to provide the over-arching coordinating role as envisaged for the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Recreation Council.
The outdoor recreation sector has made strong calls for a single organisation to provide leadership and strategic vision.
Why doesn’t SPARC take on the role?
There are issues associated with outdoor recreation that fall outside of SPARC’s brief – for example issues of access, and conservation and tourism matters.
SPARC and the outdoor recreation sector believe it is important that an independent body with the appropriate knowledge and expertise be established to provide governance and leadership.
The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Recreation Council will assist SPARC to manage relationships with key stakeholders in outdoor recreation and the process for sector consultation and input on outdoor recreation matters.
Contact the Council
Contact the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Recreation Council by emailing hillarycouncil@sparc.org.nz.
Updated | 14 Aug 2009.
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