TNZ Participant Protection Policy
1. Purpose of the Policy
1.1 Tennis New Zealand (“TNZ”) is a not-for-profit organisation providing tennis and recreation
services to New Zealanders of all ages.
1.2 The purpose of this Policy is to protect the health, safety and well-being of those who
participate in the activities of TNZ, including those delivered by TNZ, Tennis Regions, Tennis
Associations, Affiliates, and member clubs, affiliates and sub-associations which are members
of Tennis Regions, Tennis Associations and Affiliates (all collectively known as New Zealand
Tennis Entities (“NZTEs”).
1.3 TNZ operates throughout New Zealand, and provides services including social tennis, tennis
coaching, competitions and tournaments, player development, and local and international
events. It is committed to ensuring the maintenance of ethical and informed practices and
responsible behaviours within the sport and that every person involved with the sport is
treated with respect and dignity and is safe and protected from abuse.
1.4 TNZ and all NZTEs consider any form of abuse, neglect, harassment, discrimination,
vilification, indecency or violence against any adult or child by a person involved in tennis as a
serious offence, and such conduct will not be tolerated.
1.5 TNZ takes seriously its responsibility to provide a safe environment for those participating in
the activities of NZTEs, particularly children under the age of 18 years. TNZ and all NZTEs have
a "zero tolerance" approach to child abuse. All NZTEs are committed to ensuring children are
safe when participating in tennis activities, and to ensuring that services are delivered with
the best interests of their young participants as a key focus. It is vital that all persons to whom
this Policy applies understand the important responsibility they have to:
(a) Adopt the practices and behaviour set by TNZ as the expected standard when carrying
out their roles (including this Policy);
(b) Implement screening measures to ensure only appropriate persons work with children;
(c) Report any abuse or neglect of which they become aware to TNZ or their NZTE and
where necessary to external authorities responsible for child protection or to police,
regardless of whether that abuse is being perpetrated by personnel within their
organisation, or by others within the wider community, including members of a child’s
family, their extended network or strangers; and
(d) Deal with alleged offending behaviour of harassment, abuse and discrimination.
1.6 TNZ is committed to providing a safe environment for all participants in the sport of tennis
including those participating in activities conducted under TNZ’s organisational structure. This
commitment is endorsed and approved atthe highest level of our organisation – by the Board
of TNZ.
1.7 If anything in this Policy is inconsistent with any relevant legislation, the relevant legislation
prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.