Gymnastics NZ has apologised for past abuses. Now it must empower athletes

The gymnastics governing body has admitted the sport has been physically and psychologically abusive, and apologised for past harms. But saying sorry isn’t enough, writes former international gymnast Georgia Cervin. Within days of serious allegations of physical and psychological abuse in New Zealand gymnastics emerging in late 2020, the sport’s governing body Gymnastics New Zealand … Read more

The Bulletin: Fears for paramedic service after pay boost scrapped

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Fears for paramedic service after pay boost scrapped, rapid report into managed isolation system released, and Greens release sweeping new welfare and tax policy. We’re going back to last week for today’s lead story, but it’s a deeply important one with wide implications for the … Read more

We want to play like the girls: The contact sport where men play catch-up to women

Amanda Thompson spends a day with the New Zealand men’s roller derby squad as they prepare for next year’s world champs in the US. Let’s play a word game. Let’s list some contact sports and the top teams in those codes. Say rugby. Are you thinking about the All Blacks yet? What about rugby league. … Read more

The Bulletin: Flashpoint looms for long-running census debacle

Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Flashpoint looms for disastrous census, a deep dive on emissions from tourism, and minister promises hard look at unsafe landfills. The debacle around the 2018 census is set for a major flashpoint this week, with parliament demanding data Stats NZ doesn’t yet want to provide. Radio NZ reports … Read more

Why divide youth sports teams by gender anyway?

The debate around girls playing in boys’ sports teams has resurfaced. Just let them play, says Madeleine Chapman. When Pennsylvania beat Tennessee in the opening round of the 2014 Little League World Series, it made the news. The Pennsylvania pitcher, who pitched a shutout, was congratulated by world famous athletes and invited to appear on … Read more

A new ad starring a top NZ rugby player reveals a stark double standard

Rebecca Wood is a force of nature in a striking new Rebel Sport commercial. But ‘how many lives you live is up to you’? Nah, not for female rugby players. There’s a lot to like about Rebel Sport’s latest foray into the world of selling stuff. A powerful Black Fern is seen charging through a … Read more

A new kind of roar: The case for a British and Irish Lionesses tour

As the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour draws to a close, opinion will be divided on whether rugby’s last traditional travelling circus has a future in professional rugby’s congested schedule. The proposed trip to South Africa in 2021 will see the Lions play just eight matches instead of ten. But, as Scotty Stevenson ponders, … Read more