The Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui welcomes experienced governance leader Deborah Hart as Board chair.
“Sport and recreation play a vital role in New Zealand, bringing communities together, inspiring excellence, and teaching values that extend well beyond the field of play,” she said.
“Protecting the integrity of sport and recreation is fundamental to maintaining public confidence and ensuring that everyone can participate in an environment that is fair, safe and respectful.
“I look forward to working with all my fellow board members, the Commission team, sporting organisations and stakeholders across the sector to support and strengthen integrity in New Zealand sport and recreation,” she said.
Hart’s tenure officially starts on 1 August 2026, succeeding inaugural Board chair Don Mackinnon who stood down in March.
The Commission takes this opportunity to thank Traci Houpapa MNZM for her contributions and leadership and during her time as interim Chair. Houpapa has been appointed Deputy Chair. Board member Tim Castle has also been reappointed for another two-year term.
Biography
Deborah Hart is an experienced governance leader and public policy adviser with expertise in dispute resolution, regulatory systems, consumer advocacy, and human rights. She chairs Utilities Disputes Limited and the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand and serves on the Human Rights Review Tribunal.
She has led major independent reviews, including the Independent Review of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Electoral Laws, is legally qualified and has extensive experience designing complaints, investigation, and accountability frameworks. Her career includes advising government on dispute resolution and serving as Executive Director of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand.
