THREE “QUICK” QUESTIONS

I have said on a number of occasions, this is my last Cycling New Zealand (CNZ) post. But here we are again. Two reasons draw me back. First is the reminder of events that seriously affected me in my contact with Swimming New Zealand (SNZ). And second is the new information being revealed about the events surrounding Olivia Podmore’s death.

In my case SNZ prepared a report on allegations made against my coaching and refused on the grounds of “confidentiality” to let me have a copy. Through a yearlong investigation by the Privacy Commissioner (PC), SNZ continued to refuse access. Even when the PC found I should see the report, SNZ still said, no. Eventually I took the case to the Human Rights Review Tribunal (HRRT). It took about a year for a hearing to be arranged and another year has gone by since the hearing was held. Shortly before the hearing SNZ suddenly reversed track and said I could read the report. But there were three conditions.

  1. The contents were confidential.
  2. The report could only be discussed with a lawyer. Even my wife and daughter and senior swimmers were excluded.
  3. Before I read the report, it could be redacted in anyway SNZ saw fit.

I refused the offer on the grounds it was three years too late, and the conditions being imposed were impossibly draconian. The HRRT is still to publish its judgement. It will be interesting to see their decision.

I have explained my case in an effort to point out the similarity with the CNZ nonsense reported today by Dana Johannsen in an article on Stuff News. Her first two paragraphs explain what she has discovered.

High Performance Sport NZ had knowledge of at least two confidential settlements between Cycling NZ and elite cyclists, in what sports integrity experts say should have raised red flags for officials at the government agency.

Information obtained under the Official Information Act has revealed High Performance Sport NZ was named as an “interested party” on two settlement agreements between Cycling NZ and athletes within its programmes since 2018.”

Hide, deception, secrecy – it is all there. It is just the way Sport New Zealand and HPSNZ operate. It is the way they do business.

But this website has said that one hundred times. And so, let’s address three specific questions raised by the Stuff article.

The day after Olivia Podmore’s death Raelene Castle and Jacques Landry held a press conference. Three times they were asked what they intended to do about changing the culture of New Zealand sport. On each occasion they gave the same answer: it was far too early to discuss that issue; their focus was on the health and welfare of Olivia’s family and cyclists returning from the Olympic Games.

Question – if that’s the case why is it that three months later Olivia’s mother told the Herald she had received no contact of any sort from CNZ. That is not communication. That’s a cover-up.

During the same press conference Jacques Landry was asked when he knew a New Zealand sprint team had been offered a reserve place for four cyclists in the Tokyo Games. CNZ turned down the offer which meant Olivia’s dream of competing in the Games was gone. Jacques Landry said he didn’t know when he heard of the offer of a place for a New Zealand team. He would need to go back to his files.

Question – I struggle to believe that’s true. The CEO of CNZ wants us to believe he does not know when he was told his sport could send four more women to the Olympic Games. That is huge news. Any normal CEO would be immediately on the phone to the NZOC. But Landry can’t remember. In my opinion the guy’s covering something – he is lying.

Well, Mr. Landry, it is four months since your lapse of memory. That should have been time, even for you, to search through those elusive files and find the date. So, when were you told New Zealand could take Olivia Podmore to the Olympic Games? The Chairman of Swimming New Zealand was forever using the same excuse.

“I can’t remember. But I will get back to you.” He never did.

And finally, Landry and Castle told us this.    

“The board will be reviewing current practices across a range of other issues that have arisen over the course of the last few months, including the ones you raise. Until that work is completed, CNZ is not in a position to provide any more detail,”

This was another standard Swimming New Zealand reply. Blame the Board or the inquiry or the Court or a puncture in the middle lane of the Auckland Harbour Bridge – anything except themselves. In my case those excuses caused a six-year delay and counting.

Question – When is CNZ going to come clean and answer Johannsen’s questions. It will take until 2027 for CNZ to get anywhere near SNZ’s record.

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