Swimming New Zealand chairman resigns

Swimming New Zealand chairman Murray Coulter resigned today. Photo / New Zealand Herald

Swimming New Zealand chairman Murray Coulter has resigned in an effort to overcome the divisions within the sport.

It comes in the wake of fallout from the Ineson Report, a Sparc review into SNZ released in June, which described SNZ's high performance environment as negative and with a culture of distrust and lack of confidence in its leadership.

Sparc initiated the independent review after less-than-impressive results from New Zealand swimmers at last year's world championships and Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Coulter said change must come and that having vibrant, healthy and viable clubs is the key to the future of the sport. But he said that, while he would like to play a part in these changes, his continued role as board chairman was acting as an impediment and he today (Friday) advised he will not stand for re-election at this month's AGM and will stand down immediately to allow the AGM the best chance of moving the organisation forward positively.

"I am very distressed at the personal attacks our staff and board are currently enduring,'' Coulter said. "I am proud of the professional way each has responded, most especially our dedicated and hard-working staff. If I remain I will damage our sport and I am not prepared to do that.

"These attacks mean that a small number of people are bringing our sport into disrepute. I hope my standing down will help us move past the negativity and help begin the process of change we know that our sport desperately needs.''

The board believed remits to the AGM, aimed at removing the powers of the board, would lead to a lack of confidence in the stability of governance that will also affect the confidence of key stakeholders and funders.

"Should the organisation not stabilise its governance function, then it will become truly ungovernable,'' said Coulter. "I do not want that for our members, be they learning to swim, aiming for the London podium or working and volunteering as coaches, officials or staff in our great sport.''

Coulter said the board believed the organisation was at a crossroads and a dissident few were acting without mandate to steer the sport into dangerous waters. The board has highlighted the coalition of regions, that requested all directors of the board resign, was initiated without the clear mandate of clubs.

At the core of the issue is Project Vanguard, a board-led initiative that aims to bring the organisation and operations into the 21st century with a focus on clubs rather than the antiquated regional structure that is outmoded.