Advocacy projects

Recreation Aotearoa is the leading professional body supporting New Zealand’s recreation sector, advocating for quality experiences that keep people active, healthy, and connected. Its members include those who plan, deliver, and manage community sport, recreation, and outdoor programmes across the country.

Recreation Aotearoa is the leading professional body supporting New Zealand’s recreation sector, advocating for quality experiences that keep people active, healthy, and connected. Its members include those who plan, deliver, and manage community sport, recreation, and outdoor programmes across the country.

Recreation Aotearoa is the leading professional body supporting New Zealand’s recreation sector, advocating for quality experiences that keep people active, healthy, and connected. Its members include those who plan, deliver, and manage community sport, recreation, parks, and outdoor spaces across the country.

Recreation Aotearoa is the leading professional body supporting New Zealand’s recreation sector, advocating for quality experiences that keep people active, healthy, and connected. Its members include those who plan, deliver, and manage community sport, recreation, parks, and outdoor spaces across the country.

Recreation Aotearoa welcomes the intent of the Life Jackets for Children and Young Persons Bill and supports efforts to reduce New Zealand’s high rate of fatal drownings. This legislation presents a significant opportunity to prevent drowning and must be strengthened to maximise its life-saving impact.

​​​​​​​Recreation Aotearoa welcomed the opportunity to submit on the Draft Refresh of the New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026–2030 (NZDS).

Recreation Aotearoa strongly urges the Ministry of Education to reconsider the exclusion of Outdoor Education from the general senior subject list.

Recreation Aotearoa strongly urges the Government to embed the principle that “gambling should benefit the community” in the Bill, ensuring a substantial share of online casino revenues supports community sport, recreation, and wellbeing.

Recreation Aotearoa opposes the removal of wellbeing from the purpose of local government and calls for cemeteries and crematoria to be recognised as essential core services. We urge the Government to protect councils’ ability to deliver recreation, play, and remembrance spaces that keep communities active, healthy, resilient, and connected.

Recreation Aotearoa calls for an industry-led, well-funded vocational education system that supports the recreation workforce — ensuring communities across New Zealand continue to benefit from safe, high-quality recreation experiences.