Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Table Tennis NZ recognises Te Tiriti o Waitangi as Aotearoa New Zealand’s founding document and is committed to upholding the mana of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the principles of Partnership, Protection and Participation.
Policy 14: Anti Corruption
Corruption has no place in our sport, and we must protect the integrity of the sport and of the people who work and play within it. We all need to be fair, impartial, responsible, and trustworthy in all our actions for the sport. Corruption harms sport and the community. Money may not be going to the sport or organisation as it should be. The integrity of the sport and everyone involved in the sport is put at risk when decisions or actions are taken for corrupt reasons.
Purpose
We are part of a global sporting village. With all the benefits that brings, there is also greater vulnerability to the issues faced globally, such as corruption, match-fixing and doping.
Corruption is not common in Aotearoa New Zealand, and certainly not on the scale found overseas. However, we can’t afford to be complacent. Being prepared will help us manage corruption if it does happen here.
While match-fixing and doping are forms of corruption, they are dealt with in separate policy documents.
This policy aims to:
- support people to identify corruption
- identify the main organisations responsible for dealing with corruption in Aotearoa New Zealand
- give clear guidance for dealing with corruption
- make sure the approach taken to deal with corruption is fair and consistent, including enabling culturally appropriate responses and processes
What is Corruption?
Corruption is the abuse of power given to a person to work in the best interests of the sport, for private or personal gain.
This policy covers anybody who can influence or change the outcome of a sporting event or decision. The power can be held by a public official, an athlete, a coach, or a committee member.
In corruption there will always be some aspect of improper or illegal gain. The gain will not always be money. It could include hospitality, a better job, or gifts.
It may not be the official themselves who receives the benefit. It may be someone close to them, such as an athlete being selected for a team, a contract for services going to a close friend, or the club getting a new team van in return for throwing a game.
An official could also misuse their position to encourage others to do something to affect or change the outcome of a sporting event or decision.
The following are examples of corruption in sport:
- Administrators taking bribes to ensure an off-field outcome – e.g., a club or association winning the right to host an event.
- Administrators stealing money belonging to an organisation.
- Club owners/agents request “kickbacks” for securing a player transfer.
- A bribe being paid to cover up another breach of sport integrity – e.g., paying an official to ignore a positive drug test result.
- Club committee members getting inappropriate gifts or favours, such as corporate box hospitality in return for making a decision that benefits the donor.
Behaviour that is not corruption
Sometimes an athlete or a team will deliberately lose, underperform, or play in a manner which the athlete or team intends to try and gain a better sports outcome; for example, a more favourable draw in a competition. This is not considered corruption even though it may look like it. An athlete may also pretend to be unable to play, for example faking poor health to get a better draw later. Any situation where the athlete or team is acting in a certain way to gain a tactical advantage may be covered by rules applying to the sport, but they are not intended to be captured by this policy.
However, Table Tennis NZ believes that any actions that are not aligned with the organisation’s values put at risk the reputation and integrity of the sport. This includes manipulation of match outcomes to achieve a future competitive advantage.
What can you do?
If a player or referee or umpire believes that a player is not playing with their best endeavours, speak up. If you know or suspect someone is using their position to get an improper benefit for themselves or someone else, then raise it with the tournament referee immediately.
Corruption is a crime. In Aotearoa New Zealand we have several laws that make corrupt behaviour illegal. Table Tennis NZ takes corruption seriously. You will be taken seriously if you have a concern. You probably will not be the only person to have noticed. Others may have already identified and raised the improper behaviour. Your speaking up may encourage others to speak up as well. Being brave and speaking up will help stamp out corruption in our sport.
Who can you go to?
Who you raise the issue with will depend on who is involved in the corruption. The following is a list of possible people and organisations you can contact within the sport:
- Club Chair, Club President
- Your local Table Tennis Association Chair/President
- Table Tennis NZ CEO
- The referee at a Table Tennis tournament
- Sport New Zealand
If you feel more comfortable, you can go to organisations outside the sport. For example:
- NZ Police National Integrity Unit
- NZ Police
- NZ Serious Fraud Office
The most important thing is to raise it with someone you feel comfortable with and who will know what to do next. It is not recommended that you discuss it with the person suspected of corruption.
How to keep yourself safe
- Know your sport’s rules on corruption. If someone approaches you with an offer that does not sound right, check the rules.
- Never gamble on sports events that you are involved in.
- Never ask someone else to bet on a sporting event you are involved in.
- Ensure anything you do during the match is for the right reasons and not because you will get an improper reward.
- Never give and take any gift or benefit in circumstances that might bring you or the sport into question.
- If you suspect corruption tell someone who can do something about it.
- If someone offers you money or favours for information, tell someone.
- If someone threatens you to force you to do something improper, tell someone.
- The Police and national anti-corruption laws are there to protect you.
- Do not share information about your team or the sport that is not available to the public, such as where a star player is injured, or the coach is fielding a weakened team. This information could be useful to someone wanting a betting advantage to make an improper financial gain.
Strong management
Strong and transparent management reduces the risk of corruption. Table Tennis NZ and all affiliated table tennis organisations have legal obligations to keep strict financial records and rules for the handling of funds. These obligations and rules are intended to support the management of financial matters, ensure transparency, and reduce the risk of corruption.
Version: February 2025