April 22, 2026 • 8 mins
Yesterday, Sport New Zealand confirmed that Raelene Castle would be remaining in her role as the CEO of Sport NZ through to May 2030 securing a second term.
Mark Mitchell is the Minister for Sport in New Zealand and he joined D'Arcy to discuss what he wants to see from Sport NZ over the next four years.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Yesterday, sport end Z confirmed that Railing Castle would be
remaining in her role as the CEO of sport in
z through to May twenty thirty. That means she's secured
a second term in the role. Mark Mitchell is the
Minister of Sport and News Any joins us now to
discuss what he wants to see from sport end ZED
over the next four years. Good evening, Mark.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
How are you mate?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
I'm very good and I expect you'd be quite happy
because now sport end ZED has retained the CEO, running
Castle is in place for a long long time. Now
do you greet this with a huge smile as it's
a positive for you in sport in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
I mean, you know, like Raylan had to reapply for
a job and go through that process, and I thought
that was actually healthy because like you say, it's good
to test these things.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
And she's come through and she's been reappointed.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
So I've congratulated her working with her, I think she's
obviously done a good job and she's and she came
through as the strongest candidate, so gives her a new
fresh mandate.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
What kind of input do you have into that that
that role. Do you have any sway here, Mark.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
No, No, that's that is that is a process that
is run by the board and the board makes the appointment.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
As far as what you would like Railing to be
doing in this role over the time that you're the minister,
what do you primarily look at? What are your targets
here for sport and.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
NS Well, she's really good at sort of building the
relationships through all of the codes without a doubt, and
she's been involved in sport for a long time, so
she understands sport administration. She understands what my priorities were,
and really, you know, my major priority has been reaching
more kids, especially those that have got barriers and the
way I have been able to participate in sport.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
And they're actually doing a great job with that.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
They're working alongside lots of government partners and NGOs and
community groups too to make sure that we reach a
lot more kids and get them active and get them
involved in sport.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Evidence of that, you know this is actually working, Mark.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, absolutely, it's working.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
So I get regular updates and brief on it, and
I've been out on the ground and to see what
they're doing, and they're doing a very good job.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
You measure these outcomes. I use a word that your
leader likes quite a lot, these outcomes. How do you
go about.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yes, I do want to measured.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
I do want to make sure we'll be very clear
as a government that we want to know that we're
not just funneling money into something that's not actually providing
some real tangible outcomes and results and sporting yet are
very aware of that as far as.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
The money that you do funnel in, as you put it,
and the limits on that. What do you look at budget?
Why do you constantly trying to increase this even though
we are in a bit of strife fiscally.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
I think across all government departments, and I know certainly
with mine, is that you are constantly you know, because
I've got sport reck, I've got corrections, Emergency Management and Recovery,
the Serious Fraud Office, and Ethnic Communities, and so across
all of those agencies, I work very closely with the
chief executives and the teams in my team year to
(03:19):
identify what works, what doesn't, where we want to make
more investment where we make where we might take some
investment out because we want to maximize the results that
we can deliver for every taxpayer dollar.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
You've plenty very passionate about this portfolio. Market's something you
want to see succeed. Besides the children being engaged, What
else is important to you that reflects on New Zealand
and sport? What do you see as being the stand
up with sport in New Zealand that you can have
some control over with ray.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Lean, Well, you know that as key with is we
love sport and I just feel that sport and recreation
has got such an important to play and everyone's both
physical health and also mental health as well, social cohesion,
you know everything. So I don't single out one specific
area has been more important than the other. But obviously
(04:09):
we've got our high performance sport, We've got our Olympics
and international Worlds. You know that the games that we
want to always perform well at and we do, so
there's always investment goes into that right through to like
I say, just the grassroots and our kids. And there's
a lot of kids key we kids now that do
have barriers to getting into sport and so we just
want to keep identifying those and making the changes we can.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
What is the best way to do do you think, Mark,
is it purely investing? Is there other ways you can
do that and encourage that sex and society that don't
engage to actually get involved.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
Well, there's always investment in you know, the actual equipment,
but really the investment is and people. It's all about
people you know, and wanting to get involved, wanting to
be mentors, wanting to actually get kids involved in sport
and recreation. We're very lucky that Sporting z is very
good at identifying good partners out in communities to be
(05:05):
able to do that.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Mark Mitchell joins us he as the Minister of Sport.
Looking at Railian Castle, who has been given the job,
the carrying on job of the CEO of Sport New
Zealand a wider picture around our favorite games as opposed
to it's getting involved in the health of it as well.
Can you contribute to enlarging or expanding some of the
sports that are great for US rugby's and our crickets.
(05:29):
Do you have any involvement in that because their CEO
loss at the moment.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
I don't have direct involvement with that.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
I did get involved a little bit in terms of
when the situation was unfolding with Netball New Zealand and
Dame Noling and that was going on, and I sort
of said, you guys have got to get this sorted
because you're sort of damaging the sport. And you saw
that there was genuine engagement, without a doubt on both
(05:57):
sides to get that resolved.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
So without a doubt, there's been a it's been a
bit unsettled with with rugby, with cricket, but I don't
I don't get directly involved in that. They are independent codes.
They have their own boards of directors, their own chief
executives and executive teams and they are responsible for how
they manage and run their own code.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
So under Sporting Z with what you're looking over with
rating Castle, do you have a definitive plan. Do you
have a checklist about what you need that you can
look to in the next six months ago we're being successful.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Yeah, So we have constant updates on meeting again with
Rayleen early May where I'm getting constantly brief and updated on.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
How the programs are going.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
She does bondor they do your sportingst does provide assistance
and help to codes. If they're struggling or they're having
some issues and they want some external help, then Sporting
zet will step in and help there. So yes, I'm
constantly being updated and brief on how the programs are
going and what we're delivering.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
And your biggest concern. I know you want more children
in but if you look at sport in general from
a governmental point of view, what worries you about the future.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
To be honest with you, I actually think we're in
a pretty good place. I think that some sports are growing,
some are going backwards a little bit.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
That's up to the codes to figure out how they.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
Create engagement and excitement to want to participate in their
particular code or sport. But a bit of competitive tension
is never a bad thing. So no, I think we're
I actually think we're in a very good place. We
do very well on the international stage. Our international teams
always are highly respected and do well, and so yeah,
I think we do. I think we punch well. And
(07:36):
I know it's a bit of a cliche, but I
think we do punch well above our weight. You know,
it's just up to me to make sure that we
continue to get the funding and direct it and maximize
the value in terms of every textbar dollar.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
And this is not about sporting jed as in the association,
the organization. It's about sport full stop and something the
government has something to do with you. You must be
stoked that this new six hundred and fifty million dollars
stadium is opening in christ Church this weekend. Does this
an epic day?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
An epic christ you? It's just just pumping at the moment.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
I've you know, I spent a bit of time down
there and the mood is so positive, grape vibe, beautiful city.
You know, I'm going to be at the stadium for
the rugby on Friday night. Really excited looking forward to that.
So yeah, I agree with you. It's just going to
be awesome.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
And the next step you're going to put one on Auckland. Right.
I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
There's a strategy being worked on around stadiums. But yeah,
of course we've got Eden Park. We just you know
that place is pumping as well.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Indeed, and on that mister Mitch, we thank you very
much for giving us some time here on Sports Talk.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
You looking on Darcy really appreciate it. Take care For.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
More from sports talk, listen live to news talks. It'd
be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on
iHeartRadio
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Yesterday, sport end Z confirmed that Railing Castle would be
remaining in her role as the CEO of sport in
z through to May twenty thirty. That means she's secured
a second term in the role. Mark Mitchell is the
Minister of Sport and News Any joins us now to
discuss what he wants to see from sport end ZED
over the next four years. Good evening, Mark.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
How are you mate?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
I'm very good and I expect you'd be quite happy
because now sport end ZED has retained the CEO, running
Castle is in place for a long long time. Now
do you greet this with a huge smile as it's
a positive for you in sport in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
I mean, you know, like Raylan had to reapply for
a job and go through that process, and I thought
that was actually healthy because like you say, it's good
to test these things.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
And she's come through and she's been reappointed.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
So I've congratulated her working with her, I think she's
obviously done a good job and she's and she came
through as the strongest candidate, so gives her a new
fresh mandate.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
What kind of input do you have into that that
that role. Do you have any sway here, Mark.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
No, No, that's that is that is a process that
is run by the board and the board makes the appointment.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
As far as what you would like Railing to be
doing in this role over the time that you're the minister,
what do you primarily look at? What are your targets
here for sport and.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
NS Well, she's really good at sort of building the
relationships through all of the codes without a doubt, and
she's been involved in sport for a long time, so
she understands sport administration. She understands what my priorities were,
and really, you know, my major priority has been reaching
more kids, especially those that have got barriers and the
way I have been able to participate in sport.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
And they're actually doing a great job with that.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
They're working alongside lots of government partners and NGOs and
community groups too to make sure that we reach a
lot more kids and get them active and get them
involved in sport.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Evidence of that, you know this is actually working, Mark.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, absolutely, it's working.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
So I get regular updates and brief on it, and
I've been out on the ground and to see what
they're doing, and they're doing a very good job.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
You measure these outcomes. I use a word that your
leader likes quite a lot, these outcomes. How do you
go about.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yes, I do want to measured.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
I do want to make sure we'll be very clear
as a government that we want to know that we're
not just funneling money into something that's not actually providing
some real tangible outcomes and results and sporting yet are
very aware of that as far as.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
The money that you do funnel in, as you put it,
and the limits on that. What do you look at budget?
Why do you constantly trying to increase this even though
we are in a bit of strife fiscally.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
I think across all government departments, and I know certainly
with mine, is that you are constantly you know, because
I've got sport reck, I've got corrections, Emergency Management and Recovery,
the Serious Fraud Office, and Ethnic Communities, and so across
all of those agencies, I work very closely with the
chief executives and the teams in my team year to
(03:19):
identify what works, what doesn't, where we want to make
more investment where we make where we might take some
investment out because we want to maximize the results that
we can deliver for every taxpayer dollar.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
You've plenty very passionate about this portfolio. Market's something you
want to see succeed. Besides the children being engaged, What
else is important to you that reflects on New Zealand
and sport? What do you see as being the stand
up with sport in New Zealand that you can have
some control over with ray.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Lean, Well, you know that as key with is we
love sport and I just feel that sport and recreation
has got such an important to play and everyone's both
physical health and also mental health as well, social cohesion,
you know everything. So I don't single out one specific
area has been more important than the other. But obviously
(04:09):
we've got our high performance sport, We've got our Olympics
and international Worlds. You know that the games that we
want to always perform well at and we do, so
there's always investment goes into that right through to like
I say, just the grassroots and our kids. And there's
a lot of kids key we kids now that do
have barriers to getting into sport and so we just
want to keep identifying those and making the changes we can.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
What is the best way to do do you think, Mark,
is it purely investing? Is there other ways you can
do that and encourage that sex and society that don't
engage to actually get involved.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
Well, there's always investment in you know, the actual equipment,
but really the investment is and people. It's all about
people you know, and wanting to get involved, wanting to
be mentors, wanting to actually get kids involved in sport
and recreation. We're very lucky that Sporting z is very
good at identifying good partners out in communities to be
(05:05):
able to do that.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Mark Mitchell joins us he as the Minister of Sport.
Looking at Railian Castle, who has been given the job,
the carrying on job of the CEO of Sport New
Zealand a wider picture around our favorite games as opposed
to it's getting involved in the health of it as well.
Can you contribute to enlarging or expanding some of the
sports that are great for US rugby's and our crickets.
(05:29):
Do you have any involvement in that because their CEO
loss at the moment.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
I don't have direct involvement with that.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
I did get involved a little bit in terms of
when the situation was unfolding with Netball New Zealand and
Dame Noling and that was going on, and I sort
of said, you guys have got to get this sorted
because you're sort of damaging the sport. And you saw
that there was genuine engagement, without a doubt on both
(05:57):
sides to get that resolved.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
So without a doubt, there's been a it's been a
bit unsettled with with rugby, with cricket, but I don't
I don't get directly involved in that. They are independent codes.
They have their own boards of directors, their own chief
executives and executive teams and they are responsible for how
they manage and run their own code.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
So under Sporting Z with what you're looking over with
rating Castle, do you have a definitive plan. Do you
have a checklist about what you need that you can
look to in the next six months ago we're being successful.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Yeah, So we have constant updates on meeting again with
Rayleen early May where I'm getting constantly brief and updated on.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
How the programs are going.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
She does bondor they do your sportingst does provide assistance
and help to codes. If they're struggling or they're having
some issues and they want some external help, then Sporting
zet will step in and help there. So yes, I'm
constantly being updated and brief on how the programs are
going and what we're delivering.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
And your biggest concern. I know you want more children
in but if you look at sport in general from
a governmental point of view, what worries you about the future.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
To be honest with you, I actually think we're in
a pretty good place. I think that some sports are growing,
some are going backwards a little bit.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
That's up to the codes to figure out how they.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
Create engagement and excitement to want to participate in their
particular code or sport. But a bit of competitive tension
is never a bad thing. So no, I think we're
I actually think we're in a very good place. We
do very well on the international stage. Our international teams
always are highly respected and do well, and so yeah,
I think we do. I think we punch well. And
(07:36):
I know it's a bit of a cliche, but I
think we do punch well above our weight. You know,
it's just up to me to make sure that we
continue to get the funding and direct it and maximize
the value in terms of every textbar dollar.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
And this is not about sporting jed as in the association,
the organization. It's about sport full stop and something the
government has something to do with you. You must be
stoked that this new six hundred and fifty million dollars
stadium is opening in christ Church this weekend. Does this
an epic day?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
An epic christ you? It's just just pumping at the moment.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
I've you know, I spent a bit of time down
there and the mood is so positive, grape vibe, beautiful city.
You know, I'm going to be at the stadium for
the rugby on Friday night. Really excited looking forward to that.
So yeah, I agree with you. It's just going to
be awesome.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
And the next step you're going to put one on Auckland. Right.
I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
There's a strategy being worked on around stadiums. But yeah,
of course we've got Eden Park. We just you know
that place is pumping as well.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Indeed, and on that mister Mitch, we thank you very
much for giving us some time here on Sports Talk.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
You looking on Darcy really appreciate it. Take care For.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
More from sports talk, listen live to news talks. It'd
be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on
iHeartRadio
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