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 4: Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Table Tennis NZ supports breastfeeding and acknowledges the health benefits of breastfeeding to the parent, baby and wider whānau.
Table Tennis NZ encourages people who are pregnant or breastfeeding to safely take part in table tennis. Table Tennis NZ actively encourages and supports breastfeeding at its facilities/events.
Breastfeeding is important for the good health of the parent, baby and wider whānau. It is important that breastfeeding parents feel comfortable to feed their babies at our events without judgement. Employees and volunteers in charge of events or facilities must have training in their responsibilities under this policy and the Human Rights Act, to ensure breastfeeding parents do not experience judgement or discrimination.
Table Tennis NZ respects a pregnant person’s right to make decisions about what is best for them, including about taking part in table tennis.
Discrimination on the basis of sex will not be tolerated by Table Tennis NZ in relation to people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Purpose
This policy sets out guidelines that apply to pregnant and breastfeeding volunteers, supporters, club members, employees, service providers.
It aims to:
- respect, support and promote the rights of people who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- promote a breastfeeding-friendly environment at all Table Tennis NZ facilities/events
- provide guidance for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding about their involvement in Table Tennis NZ or it’s affiliated table tennis organisations with a focus on safety and being inclusive.
Pregnancy and play, active recreation and sport
A person who takes part in table tennis who is pregnant must:
- get advice from their doctor or midwife before taking part in table tennis. This is because each person and each pregnancy is different
- recognise any risks of playing table tennis while pregnant and be aware of warning signs
- accept responsibility for any of those risks
- regularly review their decision whether or not to take part in table tennis and talk to their doctor or midwife about it
- use common sense and avoid taking unnecessary risks
- decide whether or not to let other participants and/or administrators know that they are or think they might be
An employee of Table Tennis NZ or an affiliated table tennis organisation must let Table Tennis NZ or the affiliated table tennis organisation know that they are pregnant for the purposes of taking leave under the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987.
Table Tennis NZ or an affiliated table tennis organisation must:
- respect and support the rights of pregnant people to take part in the table tennis
- encourage and support pregnant people to get and act on medical advice about taking part in the table tennis
- avoid giving advice to a pregnant person about taking part in table tennis that they are not qualified to give
- consider any precautions that can be taken to avoid harm to anyone taking part in the sport, including people who are pregnant
- not discriminate against anyone who is pregnant
- act in accordance with the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987 in relation to pregnant employees
- make pregnant people involved in Table Tennis NZ aware of this policy
- recognise the person’s right to privacy about their pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
Table Tennis NZ must:
- Respect and support the rights of people who are breastfeeding to take part in table tennis or be involved in Table Tennis NZ
- Actively encourage breastfeeding in Table Tennis NZ by having a breastfeeding-friendly environment, including for volunteers, participants, supporters, club members, employees, service providers, and their families/whānau
- Be prepared if asked by a breastfeeding parent involved in Table Tennis NZ to discuss their need to breastfeed or express breast milk. This includes what support they might need
- For employees and volunteers, agree breastfeeding arrangements with the person
- Regularly review and be flexible about breastfeeding arrangements as the needs of the parent may change over time
- Not discriminate against a breastfeeding person or anyone supporting them
- Act in accordance with their obligations under Part 6C of the Employment Relations Act 2000 about providing breastfeeding breaks and facilities for employees
- Make people who are breastfeeding who are involved in Table Tennis NZ aware of this policy
- Ensure other people involved in the table tennis are aware of this policy and the need to respect people’s right to breastfeed, without judgement or discrimination.
Breastfeeding arrangements
Employees and Volunteers
Table Tennis NZ will agree breastfeeding arrangements with the parent. This includes providing reasonable time for the person to breastfeed or express breast milk. The arrangement will depend on what is workable in the circumstances. An appropriate space will be provided to breastfeed or
express breast milk at the Table Tennis NZ facilities. The type of space to be provided will depend on what is reasonable and practicable, but it will be private, clean, and comfortable (not in a kitchen or bathroom/toilet).
Ideally, the space should have a comfortable chair for breastfeeding and/or expressing breast milk and be large enough to fit/move a buggy or pram. Facilities will also be provided to express and appropriately store breast milk, including a power point and fridge which is separate from any fridge used to store food.
Table Tennis NZ will regularly review breastfeeding arrangements with any breastfeeding parents and make sure its breastfeeding spaces are appropriate.
Complaints
If a person who is pregnant or breastfeeding is concerned about the way they have been treated by another person involved in Table Tennis NZ they should refer to the Policy 19: Complaints, Disciplinary, Disputes and Appeals Policy.
Version: February 2025