Talks about ways to keep talent in town

THINKING MEN: Danny Jonas, Peter Miskimmin, and John Unsworth at Cooks Gardens yesterday following Miskimmin's meeting with board members and stakeholders of Sport Wanganui.PHOTO/SUPPLIED 07112014WCSUPPETER

FOR former 150 test capped Black Stick Peter Miskimmin, Wanganui sport will always be a rich nursery - it's about having the resources in place to cultivate the fruit.

The chief executive of Sport New Zealand (SNZ) is currently on a tour of the country's regional sports trusts, meeting their boards and stakeholders, so was visiting Sport Wanganui's headquarters at Cooks Gardens yesterday for a meeting of the minds.

Sport Wanganui chief executive Danny Jonas also took him to a visit to Castlecliff School in the morning.

"Sitting in an office in Wellington, you have a view on life, but you want to get out there, hear the kids' laughter," said Miskimmin.

He played for the Black Sticks from 1978 to 1992, before becoming a successful coach in the Wellington area.

Therefore, Wanganui's hockey turf at the Gonville Domain was a regular stomping ground.

Since 2008, he has been in charge of the Government body tasked with getting more young people and adults engaged in sport and recreation, which in turn should create more success stories on the world stage.

Miskimmin said, from yesterday's meeting, the main concern of Jonas and others was similar to the country's other regional sports bodies.

Namely, that the best and brightest will always head to the larger centres once they are identified as being talented, meaning the small town they leave behind misses out in terms of their successes and the resources those will generate.

"I'm amazed at the talent that comes out of Wanganui.

"Your talent goes from here, so what are the reasons and role models for young people [to stay]?"

One of the SNZ's initiatives is 'Pathway to Podium', designed for emerging athletes and coaches so they will base themselves in places like Wanganui for as long as possible and not be penalised by losing their competitive edge.

"It's the engagement of young kids.

"We want to get them hooked on sport for life," said Miskimmin.

"There's more challenges for young kids than perhaps we had in our day.

"There's the sustainability of clubs, getting support for the clubs that are struggling."

Miskimmin has his own new boss to work with, as Dr Jonathan Coleman became the new Health minister also picking up Sport & Recreation portfolio after the election.

The Government has pledged to address child obesity and Miskimmin said Dr Coleman was very interested in combining his two ministerial areas around that issue - wanting SNZ to find ways to tackle child obesity by getting more youngsters involved in regular physical activity. They are gearing up for an important 2015.

A 'World Cups' office has been established within SNZ to lead the Government's approach to 'mega' events, specifically New Zealand hosting the 2015 Cricket World Cup and the Under 20 FIFA World Cup.

"Next year is a big year with two world cups, and with Rio [Olympics] the following year," said Miskimmin.

"The ones you see do well [at Olympics] are the ones on the podiums a year out."