Asian-Kiwi Athletes in Sport
Rugby is the national sport in Aotearoa New Zealand. Source: Goldsztajn / Wikimedia Commons
Sport brings communities together from across the world and Aotearoa New Zealand is no different.
With emphasis on the likes of rugby, netball, rowing, and cricket it can be simple to assume that Aotearoa is rightly promoting our national teams and keeping sports fans on their toes. Because while we may be small, we are fiercely competitive with strong-armed marketing machines and supportive fanbases.
But in terms of representing culture, it may be questioned if we are doing all we can to ensure that the sports sector is working with, and for, minority demographics such as professional Asian-Kiwi athletes.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Advisor at Sport Manawatū, Dantaye Simpson said New Zealand sports can overlook groups such as Asian-kiwi athletes.
“I feel that [the sports sector] are not always specific enough when working in communities, as you can get overlooked as an Asian in Aotearoa in the sports world. We have a huge focus on competition, and while in my work we really push for recreational opportunities, this is not always seen national wide,” Simpson said.
Simpson described the aspects of co-design opportunities that her organisation focuses on. However, she said Asian-Kiwis may not be accommodated through this, and that it should be a priority for the future.
“We do a lot of mahi with former refugees and RIMA communities. However some Asians will not fit in this category, so being more curious and active in seeking their guidance can strengthen this,” Simpson said.
“Something as simple as promoting Asian achievement on social media, making it more normalised can help change the environment and increase visibility.”
When it comes to success stories of professional Asian-Kiwi athletes, there are a few individuals that may be at the forefront, such as Ajaz Patel.
Patel is an Indian-born cricketer who has represented Aotearoa as a Black Cap bowler, having emigrated from Mumbai in 1996.
Patel is an Indian-born cricketer who has represented Aotearoa as a Black Cap bowler, having emigrated from Mumbai in 1996. Source: Dave Morton / Wikimedia Commons
In a 2021 game against India, Patel took all ten wickets in an inning of a test, making him the third bowler to do so, after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble.
However, Patel may only be recognisable to some from advertisements and marketing media, as opposed to his actual career as a professional cricketer.
“There was a banking add which he [Patel] was in, which made me inclined to have a Google into him. Proof that representation matters and is not very good for Asians in sport,” Simpson said, who linked this initial oblivion to a lack of representation.
Another standout deserving of recognition is Shaun Johnson, considered to be one of the greats in rugby league, who has Laotian heritage from his mother. In 2014, Johnson was the recipient of the Golden Boot Award for world’s best player.
The pan-ethnic group “Asian-New Zealander” make up a significant percentage of the population; 17.3% as of a 2023 census, with it being predicted that this number will increase over the next two decades, and “overtake Māori as the country’s second largest major ethnic group”, sourced from GlobalWomen.
But even with these numbers, there are barriers in place that make it difficult for marginalised communities, even large ones with strong ties to physical exertion and creative pursuits, to have their stand and evidently make an impact.
“The barriers to participate are mostly related to access, inclusion, and the competitive nature of New Zealand sports,” said Carl Peterson, a Sports Science Lecturer and S&C Coach at the University of Canterbury.
Peterson mentioned how compared to all tamariki, those of Asian ethnicity tend to spend less time playing with friends or whānau and participating in play and informal activity.
From experience in his field, Peterson reflected on the relatively high level of Asian representation in sports that he is involved with, cricket and swimming, and how there have been meaningful ways that people are striving for better inclusion.
“There are a number of diversity issues that are being researched in sport to ensure fair and equal opportunities,” Peterson said.
On top of Simpson and Peterson’s considerations, the 2023 Active NZ survey and report goes into specific detail, outlining the ways in which participation of Aotearoa’s Asian population is impacted, primarily around sporting activities, before leading into developed strategies that should be implemented in the future.
The main takeaway from this report is that for marginalised communities, there is a lack of cultural knowledge around sports and fewer opportunities, which may make the ordeal intimidating. Feeling overlooked and being excluded, and a lack of funding, have shown to be major issues. The report reveals that three themes act as inhibitors: access barriers, inclusion barriers, and the competitive nature of sport.
“The report highlights the need for sports organisations and clubs to create more culturally inclusive and supportive environments,” Peterson said.
Both participants and sport facilitators’ provided suggestions for further action in the report, which revolve around improving accessibility to information, broadening the focus, and encouraging Asian sport leaders to be advocates.
There may be a tie-in between these findings, and why it is not always comprehensible to see proper representation of Asian-Kiwis in professional sporting, as opposed to other cultures. It is also important to ensure that differences are addressed, and individuals are being supported from an early age.
“Only a tiny fraction of any population will succeed at the highest level. Therefore, it is essential to address the differences in population participation rates at younger ages, to allow the few of a particular group to rise to the top,” Peterson said.
Another area of representation for Asian-Kiwi athletes that needs examining is that of female players in their respective sports.
“I think when it comes to female athlete representation it should be 50/50. It should be the norm to open a newspaper and see women’s sport, it’s not a surprise that it’s there,” Simpson said, who is very passionate about gender equality.
“Asian athletes deserve better representation, how it looks as a non-Asian, I am not sure. But I do know for sure that they are not represented enough through our media, and if it was increased, we would likely see a rise in Asian participation.”
Female success stories for Asian-Kiwi athletes include professional table-tennis player Chunli Li, professional rugby league player Tyla Nathan-Wong and Lydia Ko, the youngest player of either gender to be ranked number one in professional golf.
Lydia Ko at the LPGA Kingsmill in 2016. Source: Keith Allison / Wikimedia Commons
“I am South Korean born but most of my golf development has been in New Zealand, it’s where I went to school, and my best friends are from New Zealand. It definitely feels like home,” commented Lydia Ko on the New Zealand Olympic Team website.
“I love it, and I’m so proud to have the flag or the silver fern on my back. To get New Zealand supporting me is a really great thing.”
Jamie Lane is the Community Sport Project Advisor and Insights Lead at Sport Waitākere, where he has had over 25 years of experience in the community sports sector with a core competency in disability inclusion.
Lane believes in Aotearoa becoming a good ally to its marginalised communities in sport, and that advocacy is key in doing so.
“As with many marginalised communities, the Asian population has challenges. These are many, however, the ones we often see are: lack of cultural understanding, which in turn leads to fear to engage or even just have a conversation,” Lane said.
“What we [Sport Waitākere] are very often promoting is having a cup of tikanga with people to really understand who they are and how they work. This allows us to become a good ally to a community and therefor advocate for them in spaces they might not feel comfortable in.”
This country has always had the capacity to bring everyone together and celebrate success among its people. With Asian-Kiwi athletes, who wish to see their craft and careers honoured in the same manner as other cultures, there are ways to do so.
While Aotearoa is a bicultural society, many think it best that the country be referred to as multicultural, to officially recognise cultures of multiple different peoples.
This, along with advocacy, education, and influence, could aid in increasing suitable representation of Asian-Kiwi athletes.