Sport Minister Mark Mitchell has requested a briefing from the Sport Integrity Commission amid an investigation into Boxing New Zealand and its head coach, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says.
The commission has been investigating the organisation and coach Billy Meehan since May last year over claims of bullying, favouritism, excessive drinking and inappropriate comments. Meehan remains in his role.
Some boxers have pulled out of Commonwealth Games contention as a result of the allegations and handling of the official investigation, 1News revealed last night.
Luxon told Breakfast this morning Mitchell had proactively asked the commission for a briefing, which would happen this week.
“Mark, as sport minister who I hold accountable for it, he’s already asked for a briefing from this commission about it,” the PM said.
“The issue’s only just come to light. He’s asked the commission proactively to come and see him to provide him with a briefing. Let’s let him go through that process and then take it from there”.
The PM said the Sport Integrity Commission was an independent Crown entity designed to work with sporting bodies and hold them to account.
“For me, frankly, as Prime Minister, to get involved in this is sort of not where I need to be focused on,” he said.
The commission received $10 million in government funding in the last financial year.
Luxon said Mitchell would ask whether the commission had done everything it should be doing as an independent Crown agency.
“There’s obviously a series of allegations that are made. There’s obviously a natural justice process that would need to be followed,” he said.
Despite multiple allegations against him, head coach Billy Meehan has remained in charge. (Source: 1News)
1News understands at least four athletes have made complaints to the Sport Integrity Commission about Meehan. Coaches and referees have also been interviewed.
The Sport Integrity Commission was set up in 2024 after a string of damning reviews into the country’s elite sporting environments in the wake of the death of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore in a suspected suicide.
The commission’s role is to “ensure sport and recreation in New Zealand environments are safe, fair and inclusive” with responsibilities set out in the Integrity Sport and Recreation Act 2023.
It opened an official investigation into Boxing New Zealand in May last year.
Athletes and coaches tell 1News that the length of time the investigation is taking has prompted them to speak out, because the lack of progress is having a tangible effect on this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with athletes pulling out.
Both Boxing New Zealand and Meehan have said they won’t comment while an investigation is ongoing.
The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including the New Zealander named in the Epstein files, Iran’s warning to the US, and a strip club brawl ended by friendly fire. (Source: 1News)