Pete Miskimmin: Sports Diplomacy Manager on his new role

Pete Miskimmin is one of New Zealand’s leading sports administrators – and he’s set to show us off to the world. 

The former Black Sticks Captain and Sports NZ CEO has taken on a new role as Sports Diplomacy Manager and tasked with using sport to achieve Government objectives in political, economic, and social sectors. 

He told Mike Hosking that it allows them to build key relationships and attract people in a relaxed, informal environment without all the suits and officials around. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Peter Muskimmon is one of New Zealand's leading sports administrators.

(00:02):
Of course, former Black six captain, Sport New Zealand Chief executive.
He's got a new job to use sport to achieve
government objectives, whether it be politically, economic or social. Peter
Mus skimmers with us. Peter morning to you, Mike. How
are you very well? Indeed are you just back from
the Olympics?

Speaker 2 (00:18):
I am, yes, i am.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
And did you in your new capacity achieve anything?

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Yeah, there was a lot. Clearly. I think our performance
in Paris just reinforced just the international currency that we
have at the moment in terms of respect for us
and what we do. And so we're able to use
that and provide opportunities where we could host a lot
of you know, dignitaries from overseas to build that government

(00:46):
government relationships. You know, companies in New Zealand using the
New Zealand House as a platform to host their customers
and suppliers. So using these sorts of events to leverage
in a way that as more to New Zealand both
you know, economic and politically.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
And how do you literally do that in your job
as opposed to anyone just putting on an event at
New Zealand House, having a bunch of athletes they're and
having a good time.

Speaker 2 (01:10):
Well that that can be done. But the idea here
is to be very deliberate about it. It's working across
government and finding where you know, which are the markets,
which are their companies that we want to target, and
providing the opportunity for those people to actually do that.
And when you start looking at offshore events like the
Olympic Games, but they're also on shore events like we've
had in the FIFA Women's World Cup, you know sal GP.

(01:32):
There are so many of these where you know All
Blacks are going to be touring us and you know
the Black Caps will be in India. Anytime when there's
an opportunity where our lead athletes are performing, is an
opportunity that we can attract the people that we want
in a hosting environment, in a relaxed, informal environment where
without a tie and all the officials around, we can
actually build those relationships, those people to people relationship.

Speaker 1 (01:54):
What do they not do that themselves? Not trying to
do you out of a job. But when the All
Blacks go to San Diego, don't they take care of
that themselves and how do you dubtail yourself in there
to leap on their bandwagon so to speak.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
Here most clearly they do. One of the things that
we're looking at doing is how do we represent the
New Zealand's view. What is the New Zealand's story that
we want to portray in those environments. How is it
that we can bring government together as one and look
to leverage those opportunities. Part of that is getting the
rights to host those from our national sporting body SODAS,

(02:26):
working with rugby and cricket, netball everyone else to find
those money can't buy moments and environments where we can
invite people attracting to it so we can have the
conversations that we want.

Speaker 1 (02:39):
Cool job, well done, Petter go well well, I appreciate
it very much. Pedemas Skimm and Sports Diplomacy Manager is
what he's calling himself these days. For more from the
Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks that'd be
from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.