8. Question No. 8—Sport and RecreationGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister for Sport and RecreationQuestion No. 8—Sport and Recreation8. GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister for Sport and Recreation: What progress has been made on the implementation of the Government's Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation strategy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister for Sport and Recreation): The Prime Minister and I launched the Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation strategy in October 2018. It's aimed at improving and increasing leadership participation and value and visibility. Since then we have seen significant progress including $2.7 million of funding through High Performance Sport New Zealand to support women into leadership and elite coaching roles. The Sport New Zealand activation fund has invested in nine projects to lift participation and support young women to be physically active. And we have held the first New Zealand women and girls summit for sport and active recreation and the next summit will be held in October this year. The strategy also sets a gender diversity target of 40 percent for boards funded through Sport New Zealand; previously it has sat at 27 percent. Many boards are making progress towards this and we will receive a final report shortly on where we have reached.Ginny Andersen: What recent announcements have been made that will support the women and girls in sport strategy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The announcement last week that New Zealand and Australia have been confirmed as joint hosts for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is a significant boost for women's sport. The Government has set aside up to $25 million to host the event. Of that $14.2 million goes to New Zealand Football for direct support of the tournament. The remainder will ensure a seamless tournament is delivered. The opening match is proposed for Eden Park and a total of 29 matches are expected to be played in New Zealand with 35 to be played in Australia. This is one of the world's major sporting events. It presents an amazing opportunity for us to grow female participation in sport create new female leaders and further raise the visibility of women's sport in New Zealand and around the globe.Ginny Andersen: What other significant events will help increase leadership participation and value and visibility for women and girls in the sports sector?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is the latest in a substantial line-up of international women's events each providing a platform for women and girls in sport and active recreation to be enhanced. The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2021 is scheduled to be held from 6 February to 7 March and the organisers have already begun developing a leverage and legacy plan with a strong focus on women in cricket at all levels. Likewise the Women's Rugby World Cup 2021 will be held in New Zealand in September and October. This also has a strong leverage and legacy plan under way. Off the pitch New Zealand is currently the secretariat for the International Working Group on Women and Sport the largest network on the globe dedicated to advancing sport by empowering women and girls and we will be hosting the eighth International Working Group World Conference in 2022. Through all of these events we have a tremendous platform for transformational change and I am proud to work alongside so many passionate and willing partners who are committed to providing a lasting legacy for women and girls in sport and active recreation.