In a significant milestone for Aotearoa New Zealand’s sport and recreation sector, the NZ Esports Federation has become the first national sporting organisation to formally adopt the Code of Integrity for Sport and Recreation (Integrity Code).

The Integrity Code sets out minimum standards to help sport and recreation organisations prevent and respond to threats to integrity and create safe and fair environments for all participants. From today (Thursday 28 August 2025), NZ Esports Federation and its members will be formally bound by the Integrity Code and will begin working towards full compliance with its standards.

Rebecca Rolls, Chief Executive of the Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui, welcomed the announcement.

“This marks a major step forward in building a culture of integrity across the sport and recreation sector, and we’re thrilled to see NZ Esports Federation leading the way – their adoption of the Code reflects a genuine commitment to integrity across their sport.”

NZ Esports Federation Chief Executive Jonathan Jansen says the move to adopt the code is an important step for them.

“Adopting the Integrity Code reinforces our commitment to the highest standards of integrity. It’s central to our goal of creating a safe, fair, and inclusive esports ecosystem.

“We’re proud to be the first sport to adopt the Code, and we’re looking forward to working closely with the Commission and our members to build a culture of integrity we can all be proud of”.