When it comes to integrity in sport, few voices carry as much weight as Don Mackinnon’s. A leading New Zealand sports lawyer with decades of sports governance experience, Don has led several major reviews into sport. That includes the five to six years he spent on the project that led to the establishment of the Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui, of which he is now Board Chair.

We caught up with Mackinnon to discuss his sporting background and the value of the Integrity Code in New Zealand’s sporting landscape.

I come from a classic Kiwi working class background. Sport was fundamental to our existence. My mother played netball for Auckland, my father was an ex-Waikato farmer who was mad on rugby, and I was the youngest of six kids, all sport-crazy. Being at the end of the food chain, I wasn’t going in any other direction.

Sport is in my DNA and that passion hasn’t faded as an adult, I’m still obsessed. I played rugby and cricket to a reasonable level and after I retired coached both my sons’ rugby and cricket teams. I still play golf as much as I can—I'm hooked. I’ve stayed loyal to Liverpool FC and whenever I’m in England I try to get tickets to Anfield if I possibly can. My wife’s a personal trainer and she tries to keep me fit by dragging me to the gym. We hike a lot, and we even dabble in social tennis—though, to be honest, I might be a bit too competitive to call any sport truly ‘social’.

My parents had ingrained in me the importance of fairness and doing the right thing, and those values have always guided me. I like to think they shaped how I played sport and they’ve driven every step of my professional career.

By my mid-30s, I was lucky enough to be deeply involved in sports governance and sports law. I’d love to say it was a deliberate plan, but that’s not true. When you bring together sport, law and a solid sense of purpose, opportunities have a way of finding you.

Now, I’ve got years of experience behind me. I’ve been involved in several major reviews, including the project that led to the establishment of the Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui. I’m now Chair of the Commission, Chair of the Blues and I have a fascinating role as Chair of the Integrity Vetting Panel for World Athletics. I’ve Chaired Netball NZ and had amazing governance roles with Sport NZ and HPSNZ. I’ve been extremely lucky – all these experiences have only deepened my passion and sharpened my understanding of integrity.

I recall coaching my son’s schoolboy rugby team and seeing our star player make a mistake that probably cost us the final. What really struck me was the reaction of his family—it was awful. It really opened my eyes to how easily our passion to win and to be successful can make us lose perspective, even at the school and community levels.

I’ve always looked back at that situation and regretted not stepping in. Reflecting on it now reminds me how important it is to shift our perspective and build a culture rooted in integrity. There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that we can be focused on success while protecting a safe, respectful environment and standing up for our sporting values.

This is something we need at every level across the sport and recreation sector, from the Olympic stage to community clubs and activities.

Creating that kind of culture doesn't happen overnight. In the short term, the Commission is focused on getting the foundations right, starting with the Integrity Code.

The Integrity Code allows organisations to reassure every participant that there are rules, tools and education in place to keep them safe, and an independent body to support if things go wrong. That’s where the real value is.

I’ve worn a lot of hats over the years and spent many years in governance. I know that dealing with integrity issues can be hard. Partnering with the Commission seems like a no-brainer. It gives organisations a clear framework for integrity and resources to help them get there.

We’ll never be able to stop wrongdoing completely. But if something does happen, organisations will have a mechanism in the Integrity Code that helps us get it right together.