From time-to-time things happen in sport that don’t feel right. Sometimes these issues can be a sign of a serious problem, but often they turn out to be relatively minor and can be easily resolved. To help resolve these issues, Athletics NZ is committed to providing a clear, fair and consistent process for its members.
Below is a step-by-step process of how concerns and complaints are dealt with within Athletics New Zealand.
Our Complaints Process
The first step of the process is to determine if an issue is a concern or a complaint. This is to help avoid using up valuable time and resources on issues that could be straightforward to resolve.
What is a concern?
Concerns are issues that people may be worried about but don’t warrant a formal complaint.
All member Clubs and Centres have an obligation to do all that is reasonable to resolve issues before they escalate to become formal complaints and we encourage individuals to take a common-sense approach and raise the concern directly with the person/people involved.
If you are unable to do this, we recommend you raise the issue with your Club. If the Club feels that they need support with this concern, they can speak with their Centre.
How concerns are dealt with
In most cases, Athletics NZ will work alongside a Club or Centre to help resolve a concern.
However, Athletics NZ can choose to escalate a serious concern and treat it as a complaint.
Factors that will be considered include:
• the nature of the concern
• the seriousness of the concern
• who raised the concern
• the age of the person who the concern relates to
• whether the concern was raised anonymously
• whether a concern has been raised about the person before.
What is a complaint?
A complaint is a formal statement relating to an allegation of misconduct. A complaint may be made by any member of Athletics NZ, or a person on behalf of that member (with their consent).
What is misconduct?
Misconduct under the Athletics NZ Judicial Regulation, means any conduct by an Athletics NZ Official, a National Representative, a Participant, an Individual Member, Life Member, Member Club or an Associate Member which:
- breaches or is contrary to the Athletics NZ Code of Conduct
- is Harassment
- breaches the Constitution, any Regulation, or any rule, reasonable determination, resolution or policy of Athletics NZ, and which conduct is not covered by any other Regulation (including engaging in Harassment)
- breaches the World Athletics Constitution, World Athletics Rule, or any World Athletics Regulation
- is unbecoming of that person or organisation or is detrimental to the objects or interests of Athletics NZ or to the reputation of Athletics NZ or Athletics in New Zealand
- has brought, or is likely to bring Athletics NZ or Athletics into disrepute
- occurs where the person knowingly assists or is otherwise complicit in any act or omission that constitutes, or culminates in the commission of, Misconduct by another person to whom this Regulation applies.
Making a formal complaint
A formal complaint can be made in writing to the Athletics NZ CEO.
It should set out in as much detail as possible the nature of the alleged misconduct; the persons involved; the date(s) and time(s) on which the alleged misconduct occurred; the impact of the incident on the complainant and/or other persons; and what resolution is being sought.
Athletics NZ acknowledges that in some circumstances it may be more appropriate for the complaint to be made via phone call or in person.
Athletics NZ understands that in some circumstances it may be more appropriate for the complaint to be made via phone call or in person.
If you feel your issue cannot be dealt with effectively by Athletics NZ, or you would prefer to raise the matter with an independent body, you can contact the Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui click here
Full details of our complaints process can be found in the Athletics New Zealand Judicial Regulation
Anonymous Complaints
To ensure that natural justice is observed, it is highly likely that complaints made anonymously will be dealt with as concerns. This is at the discretion of Athletics NZ.
What happens next?
Your complaint will be received and assessed by the CEO of Athletics NZ.
If the complaint is not deemed to be an Athletics NZ matter it will be dismissed – and you will be informed of the reasons why.
If the complaint falls under the jurisdiction of Athletics NZ, it will be dealt with based on the severity of the issue raised.
Withdrawing Complaints
Athletics NZ has full discretion to proceed with a complaint regardless of whether the complaint has been withdrawn and in situations where the person who raised the complaint wishes to remain anonymous.
Raise A Concern with Athletics New Zealand
For form click here