More than 115 leaders from 65 different sporting, health and community organisations attended the re-cent Auckland Sport Sector Forum 2018: Changes, Challenge and Choice for Sport and Recreation, run by Aktive - Auckland Sport & Recreation (Aktive), in association with key strategic partners Sport New Zealand and Auckland Council.

Dr Sarah Sandley, Chief Executive Officer, Aktive says the session covered a range of topics pertinent to the sector including advocacy, investment, research and regional community sport strategy The Auck-land Approach to Community Sport.

"This annual forum is a unique opportunity for Auckland’s sport and recreation sector leaders to come together to share ideas and insights and discuss ways to support and grow their respective communities," says Dr Sandley.

"The diversity of Auckland as a city was reflective of the group who attended and underpins our be-spoke community sport strategy The Auckland Approach to Community Sport."

Developed specifically for Auckland based on insights, this strategy sees the alignment and implementa-tion of regional and delivery plans with a focus on targeted groups to ensure relevance, access and equi-ty.

Dr Sandley says: "A key outtake from this forum was that, as a sector, we must continue to use research and our combined reach and expertise to co-create a world-class sport system in Tāmaki Makaurau, community by community."

Attendees were addressed by distinguished guests including Councillor Penny Hulse, Chair of Auck-land Council Environment & Community Committee, Auckland Council; Mace Ward, General Manager Parks Sport & Recreation, Auckland Council; Paul Marriott-Lloyd, Senior Policy Manager, Auckland Council; Iain Laxon, Chief Executive Officer, Auckland Cricket; and Peter Miskimmin, Chief Executive Officer, Sport New Zealand.

Featuring the hashtag #sportmatters, Aktive tweeted messages communicated by speakers throughout the event. These included comments from Councillor Penny Hulse: ‘Sport is no longer the domain of elite sport - it is who we are as a city’; alongside ‘It’s about quality experiences - your supply must meet the new demand’ from Peter Miskimmin.

Dr Sandley adds: "We are encouraged by the growing attendance and valuable connections at this sector event. It is imperative that we continue to engage with each other and our communities and share exam-ples to boost our collective knowledge and impact.

"Aktive is proud to help facilitate these connections and we look forward to building on this with fur-ther opportunities to bring the sector together."

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