Warning: This page contains information that may be distressing or triggering for some people. Contact support services
Feeling included, being part of a community and having fun are benefits of belonging to a team or club. Everyone deserves to enjoy sport and recreation in an inclusive, supportive and safe environment. And to be treated with dignity, respect and courtesy.
Racism and other discrimination do not belong at any level of sport and recreation. Or in any part of our society. Itâs everyoneâs responsibility to call out and stop racism and discrimination.
What is racism and unlawful discrimination
Racist discrimination and harassment is unlawful. The same goes for sexual harassment.
Discrimination means being treated differently or unfairly because of a personal quality, such as race, sex, religion, disability or age.
No one can treat you differently or unfairly because of:
race, ethnicity, skin colour, nationality or citizenship
sex, gender identity, sexual orientation
marital, relationship, or family status
pregnancy or breastfeeding
disability
receiving a benefit or ACC
age
religious belief or non-belief, ethical or political beliefs and opinions.
In sport, for example, no one can stop you:
wearing a headpiece or full-coverage swimsuit because of your religious beliefs
competing in athletics because of your sex
having a political statement on your rugby wrist bands.
Discrimination is against the law in most areas of sport and recreation. Sometimes in sport it is ok to be treated differently or excluded from activities because of your age or sex. For example, a 12-year-old not being selected for an under-10 netball team.
Direct and indirect discrimination
Direct discrimination is treating someone differently or unfairly because of a personal characteristic. For example, not allowing you to join a team because you are an older person but have the ability to play at the level needed.
Indirect discrimination is putting rules in place that apply to everyone but puts someone at an unfair disadvantage. For example, uniform rules not allowing you to wear taonga like tÄ moko, pounamu or hei tiki.
Racism in sport and recreation
Racism is against the law.
It is illegal to discriminate against someone because of where they were born, their cultural background, what they look like or the colour of their skin. Racial harassment is using abusive, offensive or intimidating language or ridiculing someone because of their race. For example, making offensive jokes or using offensive nicknames.
It is language or behaviour that is either repeated or one-off, but serious enough to harm you. In sport and recreation examples include:
not being selected for a team because of the country youâre from
your club allowing only English to be spoken during training sessions.
Sexual harassment
Like racism, sexual harassment is against the law. Itâs unwelcome sexual behaviour that makes you feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. Making offensive sexual jokes, asking you unwanted sexual questions about your sex life or unwanted sexual advances are all forms of sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment can be a one-off incident or repeated behaviour, a suggestive comment or an offensive joke. For example:
a parent sends sexually suggestive jokes about their childâs coach to a teamâs group chat
your teammate regularly hassles you for a date and follows you home.
A coach tells a team member they played badly because of the country their family is from
A child is excluded from a scout camp because of their disability
An official isnât elected to a committee because they belong to a particular political party
Women athletes can only train at certain times of the day, while male athletes are encouraged to train anytime
Spectators sing and promote racist songs to put off opposition players.
Sometimes there are exceptions to unlawful discrimination. There are safety reasons and fairness to other participants. Your age, sex or physical strength may play a part in treating you differently to others.
Times when restricting participation isnât discrimination
You are injured and canât effectively compete. For example, you have an injury that prevents you from playing tennis.
You are much older or younger than other participants. For example, an 18-year-old playing in an under-15 soccer team.
The activity is restricted to disabled people. For example, joining a basketball team for wheelchair users.
Your strength, stamina or physique gives you an unfair advantage over other participants, and only if itâs relevant, for example, a male boxer competing in a womenâs only boxing competition.
To participate in a national or international elite level competition you need to compete in a single-sex competition to reach your goal.
A sports club runs a single-sex competition to increase the number of men or women in the sport where they are under-represented. For example, a golf club runs a womenâs only competition to encourage more women to join the club.
Discrimination because of your gender identity
Organisations and clubs canât exclude someone just because they are transgender or non-binary. Sports clubs need to prove a person has an unfair advantage â for example, their strength, stamina or physique â over other competitors, and itâs relevant to the sport.
The Human Rights Commission explains discrimination and gender identity in sport:
Racism and discrimination are damaging and can affect your health and wellbeing. It can affect your performance and you may quit the sport or activity you love.
It can make you feel bad about yourself or alone. Or feel like itâs your fault. But racism and discrimination can happen to anyone, itâs never ok. And there are people who can help you.
Being on the receiving end can:
lead to a loss of self-esteem, confidence or mana
lead to depression, anxiety, risk-taking behaviour and self-harm
result in poorer performance, and loss of enjoyment.
Itâs not only the person being targeted; racism and discrimination also affects those close to you. Everyone suffers if you see or experience discrimination. Friends, family, whÄnau, your team mates, and your community.
Organisations and clubs can lose out too if discrimination happens. Members might leave or new members might steer clear. The public and club sponsors might lose confidence and trust.
KÄhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission also offers information and support, and has a dispute resolution process for complaints about discrimination and harassment.
Warning: This page contains information that may be distressing or triggering for some people. Contact support services
Feeling included, being part of a community and having fun are benefits of belonging to a team or club. Everyone deserves to enjoy sport and recreation in an inclusive, supportive and safe environment. And to be treated with dignity, respect and courtesy.
Racism and other discrimination do not belong at any level of sport and recreation. Or in any part of our society. Itâs everyoneâs responsibility to call out and stop racism and discrimination.
What is racism and unlawful discrimination
Racist discrimination and harassment is unlawful. The same goes for sexual harassment.
Discrimination means being treated differently or unfairly because of a personal quality, such as race, sex, religion, disability or age.
No one can treat you differently or unfairly because of:
race, ethnicity, skin colour, nationality or citizenship
sex, gender identity, sexual orientation
marital, relationship, or family status
pregnancy or breastfeeding
disability
receiving a benefit or ACC
age
religious belief or non-belief, ethical or political beliefs and opinions.
In sport, for example, no one can stop you:
wearing a headpiece or full-coverage swimsuit because of your religious beliefs
competing in athletics because of your sex
having a political statement on your rugby wrist bands.
Discrimination is against the law in most areas of sport and recreation. Sometimes in sport it is ok to be treated differently or excluded from activities because of your age or sex. For example, a 12-year-old not being selected for an under-10 netball team.
Direct and indirect discrimination
Direct discrimination is treating someone differently or unfairly because of a personal characteristic. For example, not allowing you to join a team because you are an older person but have the ability to play at the level needed.
Indirect discrimination is putting rules in place that apply to everyone but puts someone at an unfair disadvantage. For example, uniform rules not allowing you to wear taonga like tÄ moko, pounamu or hei tiki.
Racism in sport and recreation
Racism is against the law.
It is illegal to discriminate against someone because of where they were born, their cultural background, what they look like or the colour of their skin. Racial harassment is using abusive, offensive or intimidating language or ridiculing someone because of their race. For example, making offensive jokes or using offensive nicknames.
It is language or behaviour that is either repeated or one-off, but serious enough to harm you. In sport and recreation examples include:
not being selected for a team because of the country youâre from
your club allowing only English to be spoken during training sessions.
Sexual harassment
Like racism, sexual harassment is against the law. Itâs unwelcome sexual behaviour that makes you feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. Making offensive sexual jokes, asking you unwanted sexual questions about your sex life or unwanted sexual advances are all forms of sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment can be a one-off incident or repeated behaviour, a suggestive comment or an offensive joke. For example:
a parent sends sexually suggestive jokes about their childâs coach to a teamâs group chat
your teammate regularly hassles you for a date and follows you home.
A coach tells a team member they played badly because of the country their family is from
A child is excluded from a scout camp because of their disability
An official isnât elected to a committee because they belong to a particular political party
Women athletes can only train at certain times of the day, while male athletes are encouraged to train anytime
Spectators sing and promote racist songs to put off opposition players.
Sometimes there are exceptions to unlawful discrimination. There are safety reasons and fairness to other participants. Your age, sex or physical strength may play a part in treating you differently to others.
Times when restricting participation isnât discrimination
You are injured and canât effectively compete. For example, you have an injury that prevents you from playing tennis.
You are much older or younger than other participants. For example, an 18-year-old playing in an under-15 soccer team.
The activity is restricted to disabled people. For example, joining a basketball team for wheelchair users.
Your strength, stamina or physique gives you an unfair advantage over other participants, and only if itâs relevant, for example, a male boxer competing in a womenâs only boxing competition.
To participate in a national or international elite level competition you need to compete in a single-sex competition to reach your goal.
A sports club runs a single-sex competition to increase the number of men or women in the sport where they are under-represented. For example, a golf club runs a womenâs only competition to encourage more women to join the club.
Discrimination because of your gender identity
Organisations and clubs canât exclude someone just because they are transgender or non-binary. Sports clubs need to prove a person has an unfair advantage â for example, their strength, stamina or physique â over other competitors, and itâs relevant to the sport.
The Human Rights Commission explains discrimination and gender identity in sport:
Racism and discrimination are damaging and can affect your health and wellbeing. It can affect your performance and you may quit the sport or activity you love.
It can make you feel bad about yourself or alone. Or feel like itâs your fault. But racism and discrimination can happen to anyone, itâs never ok. And there are people who can help you.
Being on the receiving end can:
lead to a loss of self-esteem, confidence or mana
lead to depression, anxiety, risk-taking behaviour and self-harm
result in poorer performance, and loss of enjoyment.
Itâs not only the person being targeted; racism and discrimination also affects those close to you. Everyone suffers if you see or experience discrimination. Friends, family, whÄnau, your team mates, and your community.
Organisations and clubs can lose out too if discrimination happens. Members might leave or new members might steer clear. The public and club sponsors might lose confidence and trust.
KÄhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission also offers information and support, and has a dispute resolution process for complaints about discrimination and harassment.
