The landscape of New Zealand tennis may never be the same again after the release today of a report advocating sweeping reforms for the sport.
The report recommends the establishment of six regional centres to deliver nationally agreed strategies -- based at the associations currently located in Auckland, North Harbour,
Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
It recommends that national policies and strategies be fully aligned and delivered through these six regions.
The remaining 19 associations are encouraged to join the nearest regional centre, but have options as to which centre they join.
TennisNZ announced last October the committee would look into the game's governance with emphasis on reducing the number of independent regional associations.
Its chairman, Jim Martin, commended the report to the tennis community as the framework for full and open discussion at the April 29 forum.
"For years the sport has operated with a structure that is generally agreed as being ineffective to lead tennis in the modern, professional era," he said.
"The Maiden committee's proposal provides a modern and robust framework for tennis in this country and, by using this framework, TennisNZ, the regional centres and clubs can work together to both simplify and revitalise the sport, including implementing strategies for increased participation and creating player pathways."
The report from the Maiden committee, chaired by Sir Colin Maiden, together with a new draft constitution, will be debated by association delegates at a forum in Wellington on April 29.
It will be voted on at a special general meeting scheduled for early August.
- NZPA
