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Value of sport and recreation

A growing area in sport and recreation in New Zealand and internationally is valuing contributions made by sport and recreation to society.

Updated (17 April 2012)

Regional information on the size of the sport and recreation sector, as an industry compared to other regional industries, and including regional sport and recreation employment data.

In this section are several Sport New Zealand-commissioned publications on the value of sport and recreation in New Zealand and links to leading international work in the area.

Sport New Zealand's Value of Sport and Recreation series

Reports

Two strands of work are published below.

A comprehensive analysis of the economic and social value of sport and recreation to New Zealand society.

National reports

Regional reports

In addition to the national reports, 13 regional reports have been produced:

Regional value of sport and recreation comparative table (summarises key regional data on participation, employment and market value across the regional reports above):

Updated 17 April 2012 - regional information on the size of the sport and recreation sector (as an industry compared to other regional industries, and including regional sport and recreation employment data):

The second is a detailed case study of the community values generated by a sport and recreation club (Norths Rugby Football Club in Porirua):

1. The Economic and Social Value of Sport and Recreation to New Zealand

New Zealanders enjoy and value sport and recreation. High levels of public and private investment support participation in sport and recreation, and so it is important to understand the benefits (and costs) generated by participation in sport and recreation.

This comprehensive national study by Professor Paul Dalziel from the AERU Research Unit at Lincoln University expands on work by BERL more than a decade ago. The report concludes that sport and recreation makes a significant contribution to the national economy and our society:

  • the broadly-defined sport and recreation sector's contribution (including volunteered services) to GDP (gross domestic product) in 2008/09 was more than $5.2 billion, or 2.8 per cent. The sector employs more than 50,000 people. This is similar to the contribution the dairy industry makes to GDP and employment.
  • Including the value of social and personal benefits more than doubles the total value of sport and recreation to New Zealanders to around $12.2 billion.

The study provides:

    • a snapshot of the current dollar value of sport and recreation activity, including, contribution to GDP and employment, consumer demand for goods and services generated by participants and spectators, and benefits to tourism and health. The costs associated with participation in sport and recreation, such as health costs following injuries, have also been estimated.
    • a recommended set of indicators for tracking the value of sport and recreation over time.

Regional reports

In addition to the national report, Professor Dalziel produced 13 regional reports.

While it was not been possible to replicate the whole national study for regions, it has been possible to re-produce the main economic analyses, which indicates the contribution that the sport and recreation sector (narrowly and more broadly defined) makes to local economies. The reports also estimate the contribution made by sport and recreation volunteers in each region. The results show that sport and recreation activities are also an important part of regional economies in New Zealand with real potential to add more value.

2. Case Study of Northern United Rugby Football Club

The economic analysis does not tell the full story of the value of sport and recreation.

To help bring a human face to the dollar value, a case study by Research New Zealand captures in the words of players, coaches, spectators and community leaders the hard-to-measure but real values that come from participation in sport and recreation. The case study demonstrates the value and values (e.g. social cohesion and social capital) for the club at the grassroots and for individual club members, their families, and the broader community.

In addition to the Norths case study, a number of other case studies have  been published about a wide range of sport and recreation initiatives and events:

What's next?

Case study toolkit: An online toolkit providing practical advice to help sport and recreation sector organisations tell their own value stories will be published shortly. The aim is to build a repository of case studies demonstrating the many and varied benefits of sport and recreation for New Zealanders.

For more information on the project, contact Grant McLean, Principal Advisor Research: grant.mclean@sportnz.org.nz

Other commissioned research on the value of sport and recreation

The Benefits of Events – an annotated bibliography

This annotated bibliography summarises studies on the likely impacts and value of sports events. The impacts examined were economic, socio-cultural, environmental and health impacts.

The benefits of events - An annotated bibliography (PDF, 524 Kb) (PDF, 524 Kb)

National Identity and Sport – an annotated bibliography

This annotated bibliography summarises studies on the ability of sport and events to contribute to national identity, national pride, psychic capital and a 'feel-good' factor.

National Identity - Annotated Bibliography (PDF, 573 Kb) (PDF, 573 Kb)

Note: The reports commissioned by SPARC (now Sport NZ) were produced by independent institutions and do not necessarily reflect Sport NZ's position on these topics.

Other research resources on the value of sport and recreation 

Value of Sport Monitor (United Kingdom)

The Value of Sport Monitor is a joint Sport England and UK Sport initiative working in conjunction with Professor Fred Coalter and colleagues at the University of Stirling. It provides an online monitoring service of the most up-to-date reference sources and critical reviews of published research evidence on the contribution of sport to a range of broader social issues:

  • crime reduction and community safety
  • economic Impact and regeneration of local communities
  • education and lifelong learning
  • participation
  • physical fitness and health
  • psychological health and well-being
  • social capital and cohesion

The Value of Sport Monitor is not a bibliography (of the type already produced by a number of other agencies). Rather, it is based on a relatively rigorous selection process and, in the main, deals with evidence and reasonably robust empirical material and not the more general academic/theoretical material.

Value of Sport Monitor website

Value of Sport (Australia)

The Australian Sports Commission was involved in early work to develop the Value of Sport Monitor. ASC also commissioned a study of the economic value of sport in Australia conducted by Frontier Economics.

Frontier Research: The Economic Contribution of Sport

The Department of Sport and Recreation in Western Australia has produced an analysis of the value of sport and recreation to the State. 

More than winning: the real value of sport and recreation to Western Australia (PDF)

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