SPECIAL REPORT: THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE POWER OF SPORT
THE WELLBEING OF OUR PEOPLE: ACHIEVING WELLBEING OUTCOMES THROUGH SPORT AND RECREATION IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Sport for Aotearoa New Zealand explains the importance of sport and recreation to achieving wellbeing for all. Introduction We know that sport and physical activity can play a vital role in enhancing individual and collective wellbeing. This is clear not just from a physical health perspective, but also in terms of mental wellbeing and strengthening communities. This article illustrates the strategic approach taken by Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa (Sport NZ) to deliver on the Government of New Zealand’s intended wellbeing outcomes, including the provision of equitable access to sport and physical activity. The introduction of the ‘Wellbeing Budget’ in Aotearoa New Zealand, in 2019, and the tools developed to measure wellbeing outcomes at a population level were an important shift in government policy. They provide context for changes to the ways in which sport and physical activity are delivered, and the outcomes we as a country seek to achieve. The introduction of the ‘Wellbeing Budget’ represented a significant change in the way government investment decisions are made in Aotearoa New Zealand The traditional way that governments measure success and progress is through gross domestic product (GDP). In Aotearoa New Zealand, prior to 2019, we were performing well according to our GDP measures. However, GDP, while being a useful and consistent measure of economic activity, did not reflect our performance in relation to matters that our society really values. We were experiencing a decline in child welfare outcomes, employment rates, the quality of our housing, and other important measures that relate to wellbeing. Many nations have begun exploring ways to measure societal development beyond GDP, but Aotearoa New Zealand led the way when we introduced the 2019 ‘Wellbeing Budget’, deciding to invest our annual budget in ways that would improve the population’s overall wellbeing. Specifically, in a departure from traditional budgets, which measured fiscal outcomes, the 2019 ‘Wellbeing Budget’ introduced measurements for a much broader range of wellbeing and societal outcomes. This change was enabled by the New Zealand’s Treasury development of the Living Standards Framework (LSF), which
provides tools to measure current and future wellbeing outcomes for New Zealanders. The LSF provides a framework to understand the drivers of wellbeing and to consider the broader impacts of government policies in a systematic and evidenced way. The LSF was originally comprised of two core components for measuring population wellbeing. These have since been further developed, with the latest iteration of the LSF framework introducing three levels of factors that make a contribution to wellbeing: • our individual and collective wellbeing – this level measures resources and aspects of our lives that are important for the wellbeing of individuals, families, whānau and communities; • our institutions and governance – this level measures the contribution political, economic, social and cultural institutions make towards safeguarding and building our national wealth and supporting the wellbeing of our people and communities; and • the overall wealth of Aotearoa New Zealand – this level measures aspects of wealth not fully captured in the system of national accounts, such as human capability and the natural environment. The introduction of this wellbeing approach prompted all Government departments and crown agencies when developing any new objectives and policies, to consider how the work aligns with the three framework levels set out by the LSF. It also required government departments to look at where there are opportunities to collaborate when putting forward new initiatives. This was further supported in 2020 by the passing of the Public Service Act 2020 (the Act). The aim of the Act is to encourage a more adaptive and collaborative public service, and to get stronger recognition of the role of the public service in supporting the partnership between Māori and the Crown under the Treaty of Waitangi (te Tiriti o Waitangi). COVID-19 further showed how agencies can collaborate to solve complex challenges facing New Zealanders. However, it also highlighted how divergent government agencies are more generally in their work, and the value of taking a more collaborative approach. A more collaborative and cohesive public service is needed to
Hon. Grant Robertson, MP is the Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and the Minister of Finance, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Racing. Elected to the Parliament of New Zealand as MP for Wellington Central in 2008, he previously worked at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the United Nations in New York, working on global environment and development issues. He has a strong focus on social justice and equality.
122 | The Parliamentarian | 2022: Issue Two | 100 years of publishing