What’s in this Issue
What’s in this Issue- View from the Chair
- ONZ Appointments & Vacancies – NEW!
- ONZ Council Vacancy – Applications Open
- World Masters Games – Marshals Needed
- WANTED: Current or past NZ Defence Force personnel who are interested in competing at the Auckland World Masters Games.
- NZ School Championship Grades for 2017
- High Performance Update & Squads
- Orienteering Gaming?
View from the Chair
No particular theme or focus this month other than to say a big thank you to everybody who has volunteered their services to orienteering both domestically and overseas over the past 12 months to produce such a memorable year for our sport.
There is every likelihood that 2017 will be even bigger and more rewarding. In April, Auckland will host both the World Masters Orienteering Champs as part of the World Masters Games and Oceania all within less than two weeks. This will be a great opportunity to showcase New Zealand and our sport to the army of international competitors, supporters and visitors who will descend upon the Auckland Region during this time. It is so rewarding to see all the hard work and endless hours of planning by the Orienteering Oversight Committee being repaid through the encouraging numbers of entrants for both events.
Of course, I can’t ignore that Xmas is almost upon us. So do find an excuse to relax and spend time with family and loved ones. Make sure you refuel the tanks as there are some challenging events early in the New Year.
Best wishes for Xmas and the New Year from everyone at ONZ.
David Turner
Chairperson ONZ Council
ONZ Appointments & Vacancies
The following vacancies are currently being advertised on the ONZ website:
- NEW! Pre-JWOC Training Coach Click here for JD
- NEW! Media Advisor
Full position descriptions for all these roles are available on the Orienteering NZ website.
Upcoming Events
For more events check out the Orienteering NZ website
ONZ Board Vacancies – Applications now Open
To align with the new ONZ Constitution we are now inviting applications from suitably skilled and experienced members to join the ONZ Board.
The ONZ Board is seeking to fill 2 vacancies – Pip Poole and Jane Harding’s current terms are up. The appointment is for a 3-year term.
The Council recently undertook a skills assessment to ensure we are covering all the desired governance skills identified as best practice but with every change in Board membership there is always an adjustment around skill balance.
We welcome applications from members with current or previous business experience especially in the areas of finance and governance.
Applicants must be current financial members of an ONZ Club.
- 14 February 2017 – Applications close
- by 20 February – Applicants information forwarded to Clubs and posted on the ONZ website
- 14 March – Postal Vote Opens
- 10 April – Postal Vote Closes
Application forms are available on the ONZ website.
Marshals Urgently needed
Thanks to everyone who has signed up as a volunteer for the AWMG next year. It’s going to be an amazing few weeks.
We still need about 60 marshals to watch over the course and controls for the sprints in particular. If you are available to help, we do need you to sign up with AWMG BEFORE 20 January.
Being a Marshal is easy and you will also get the AWMG volunteer uniform!
To signup please go to http://www.worldmastersgames2017.co.nz/get-involved/volunteers/apply/.
WANTED: Current or past NZ Defence Force personnel who are interested in competing at the Auckland World Masters Games.
WANTED: Current or past NZ Defence Force personnel who are interested in competing at the Auckland World Masters Games.Nick Engleback has confirmed the NZ Defence Force is keen to support a team or teams to enter the Games. Nick is looking for any orienteers who want to participate. Anyone with a military connection such as an employee of NZDF, service member or member of cadet or reserve forces.
If you are keen please contact Nick (n.engleback@gmail.com) before Christmas.
NZ School Championship Grades for 2017 onwards
The following grades system for North and South Island and New Zealand Secondary School Champs was approved by the ONZ Council and endorsed by NZSSSC for implementation from 2017 onwards.
- School championships gradings by school year, rather than athlete age.
Junior at year 9
Intermediate at years 10, 11
Senior at years 12, 13 - The course difficulty at each grade be as follows:
- At Championship grade, junior will run yellow; intermediate run orange; senior run red.
- At Standard grade, junior run white, intermediate run yellow, senior run orange.
- A Novice grade be introduced at senior, running yellow.
The novice grade will be included in the school points system, with the winner of a novice grade obtaining no more than 5 points.
International Tour Cost Summary
At the 2015 AGM Orienteering NZ was asked to provide more transparency around the costs of international tours.
The summary provides comparatives of WOC, JWOC and Southern Cross Challenge from 2013 to 2016. Click here to see summary
The costs outlined are those which were paid by Orienteering NZ but do not include costs which were paid by athletes while on tour, for example WOC meals self-funded. These are referenced in the notes.
Orienteering NZ pays the entry and accreditation fees for WOC and JWOC as per ONZ Policy G6 – International Team Funding.
Orienteering NZ has absorbed all losses listed per event which include entry and accreditation fees.
A summary of the Orienteering NZ subsidy per event shows Orienteering NZ subsidies WOC costs by an average of 40% and JWOC 36%.
High Performance Update
SuperSeries 2017
The 2017 SuperSeries will consist of four rounds.
- February 4-6 (Waitangi Weekend)- Queenstown and Waikaia
- (March) to be confirmed, JWOC Trials – Wellington
- April 14-16 (ONZ Champs) – Auckland
- June 3-5 (Queen’s Birthday) – Christchurch
Orienteering Gaming?
A French Orienteer is currently developing StarPicker, a game about Orienteering into some fantastic landscapes.
The game doesn’t look like an Orienteering simulator and have its own identity. But StarPicker brings fun and pure Orienteering willing to act as an ambassador of this beautiful sport into the world of video games.
The game will indeed learn how to use a compass and read a map to people who doesn’t know about Orienteering or have a misconception about the sport.
And the many maps included in the game will challenge players, both orienteers and non-orienteers, without a doubt!
From wild and unknown landscapes to urban and night races, StarPicker will lead the player to some Orienteering races like never before.
The game is now in beta version for PC and i’m looking for fellow Orienteers to test it and give feedback about their game experience.
If you are interested you can download a version of the game by simply filling this form
http://starpickergame.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a1abfc8c50997ce14b32c33c7&id=c89f4875af
Official website: http://starpickergame.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarPickerTheGame/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarPickerGame
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC430MexQoC-Og5oTGjBcODg
Southland launches new website
The Southland Orienteering Club has got a new website: http://www.sporty.co.nz/soc
The old website www.sportsground.co.nz/soc will be closed down
Keeping you more informed
ONZ has updated its e-newsletter database which now allows you to chose which areas are of special interest to you – such as High Performance, Technical, Mapping.
To update your email list Preferences, please Click Here.
Here’s to 2016 …
I too would like to thank everyone who has been involved with orienteering this year, be it at the club level providing one of the hundreds of club events run each year, involved in hosting a national event or sitting on any one of our committees and panels. Without all your time and commitment orienteering would not happen. Thank you.
To the Council and staff of ONZ, I wouldl also like to thank you also for your contributions during the year. Many orienteers may not recognise the work you all put in behind the scenes to help ONZ grow and thrive. It’s a pleasure to work with you all.
As David has said above, 2017 is going to busy but exciting, so please have a very merry and safe Christmas and a happy new year. I look forward to hearing about your escapades when we talk next.
The ONZ office (and email) will be on holiday from Thursday 22 December until Tuesday 10 January.
Catriona McBean
General Manager
We welcome your feedback at any time.
Our mailing address is:
gm@orienteering.org.nz
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