GOVERNANCE

Governance is how Otago Amateur Weightlifting Association Incorporated (OAWLA) is directed, controlled, and kept accountable. Our committee sets strategy, approves spending, manages risk, and makes sure we follow our Constitution and the rules of our national and international federations. Good governance keeps the sport fair, safe, and sustainable.


Our committee also operates all Otago Weightlifting and Southern Powerlifting events. You’ll see committee members setting up equipment, refereeing, and handling the behind-the-scenes work that keeps competitions running smoothly. Most of our committee members are also active competitors in their respective sports. 

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE​​​​​​​

The following are elected positions on the OAWLA Committee:

  • President - leads the committee, sets meeting agenda, represents the association.
  • Vice President - assists the President with their duties. 
  • Tresurer - financial oversight, reporting, budgeting.
  • Secretary - admin, communications, meeting minutes, compliance and key documents.
  • Lakes & Central Delegate - represents the interests of members based in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago.
  • Southland Delegate - represents the interests of members based in Southland.
  • NZPF Delegate - sits on the NZPF National Executive Committee as a voting member, representing the interests of Southern Powerlifting.

These roles are voted on by all members present at OAWLA's Annual General Meeting. Standard practice is that the President and Vice President represent each sport.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The following are current appointed positions on the OAWLA Committee:

Social Media Officer •

Special Olympics Liaison •

Health and Safety Officer •

Record Keeper •

General Member •

These roles are appointed by elected OAWLA Committee members from time to time. 

If you're interested in joining the OAWLA Committee, please get in touch. No prior experience is necessary. 

GOVERNANCE DOCUMENTS

Because OAWLA is affiliated with two national organisations, and those organisations are affiliated internationally, our members operate under a layered governance framework. In practice, that means competition, membership, conduct, and integrity expectations sit across multiple documents, not just our local Constitution.

At a local level, OAWLA is governed by our Constitution and the policies adtopted by the OAWLA Committee from time to time. At a national and international level, members may also be subject to the rules and policies of the relevant federation for the sport and competition they are involved in, including technical rules, approved equipment requirements, records standards, and integrity expectations.

Anti-doping requirements apply to both sports across all events. In New Zealand, sport anti-doping rules are set by the Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui under the Integrity Sport and Recreation Act framework, and these rules incorporate international standards.

To keep things transparent, we publish the key governance documents and link to the national and international sources below.

INTEGRITY, COMPLAINTS AND ANTI-DOPING​​​​​​​

OAWLA expects a safe, fair, and respectful environment at all training and competition activity. Where OAWLA does not have a local policy for an issue, we follow the integrity and disciplinary frameworks of our national federations and New Zealand’s national integrity system.

INTEGRITY AND BEHAVIOUR CONCERNS

If you experience or witness behaviour that feels unsafe, unfair, or inappropriate (e.g., bullying, harassment, discrimination, abuse, intimidation, misconduct, conflicts of interest), you can raise it through one of these pathways:

  1. Contact OAWLA using the Southern Powerlifting or Otago Weightlifting contact details on this page for event-related concerns and immediate follow up.

  2. Escalate through the relevant national federation where appropriate:

    • Weightlifting NZ has published integrity policies, including prohibited behaviours and complaints/dispute resolution processes.

    • NZPF has published integrity policies, includingan a code of conduct and complaints and disciplinary policy. Complaints can be made via the Complaint Form on their website.

  3. Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui is available for independent integrity complaints and support which are free and confidential. Their online form is quick and they state they will respond within two working days.

ANTI-DOPING

Anti-doping requirements apply across sport in New Zealand and apply to all OAWLA members regardless of the event, pathway, and governing body. New Zealand’s Sports Anti-Doping Rules give effect to the World Anti-Doping Code in NZ, and most national sports organisations adopt them.

  • For powerlifting, anti-doping obligations also sit under IPF anti-doping rules.

  • For weightlifting, international-level requirements sit under the IWF Anti-Doping Rules.

If you have doping concerns, you can report them confidentially through the Sport Integrity Commission’s Speak Out channel, including an anonymous option.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Concerns are handled as confidentially as possible, with fairness to everyone involved. OAWLA will respond proportionately and will escalate matters to the relevant national body or the Sport Integrity Commission when required.