How can sport and recreation build societal trust and cohesion? 

What are we seeing?  

• Social cohesion in New Zealand is declining, with growing polarisation, distrust in institutions, and a sense of disconnection between ‘elites’ and everyday citizens. 
• Only 50% of New Zealanders feel a sense of community in their neighbourhood, while 39% report feeling isolated at times, indicating weakening social bonds. 
• The rise of social media, algorithmic content delivery, and AI-generated misinformation have exacerbated political and social divisions, making it harder for people to understand different perspectives. 

What can we expect?  

• Trust erosion is expected to continue, challenging societal change efforts, but governments will focus on addressing this through transparency and technology-enabled engagement. 
• Economic hardship, inequality, and information overload may increase social fragmentation, political polarisation, and the spread of extremist views, potentially affecting workplace dynamics and productivity. 
• Despite challenges, technological advances offer opportunities to strengthen trust through data-driven approaches, while extreme weather events may either foster stronger community ties or reinforce distrustful narratives. 

What might this mean for sport and recreation?  

• Sport and recreation will be increasingly emphasised by policymakers for their ability to unite communities and bridge cultural gaps, requiring organisations to adapt their offerings for greater inclusivity and diversity. 
• Declining societal trust will lead to heightened scrutiny of sport and recreation organisations, demanding increased transparency and accountability, while potentially impacting commercial sponsorships and financial support. 
• The trust erosion may result in increased athlete activism on social and political issues, while also challenging governments and sport organisations to implement policies and gain public support for funding initiatives. 

What questions should we be asking ourselves today?  

• How can we enhance community cohesion and inclusivity through our programmes, while ensuring accessibility and cultural sensitivity? 
• What strategies can we employ to maintain our reputation, increase transparency, and build public trust in our governance and decision-making processes? 
• How can we support athlete activism and engage effectively with the public to facilitate policy implementation and strengthen cross-sector collaborations for social cohesion?