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Sports Inclusivity Fund launched after March 15 terror attacks

Following the March 15 terror attacks, Canterbury’s sporting communities, particularly cricket and football, were devastated. Members, family and friends were suddenly gone, were injured or were facing overwhelming long-term emotional pain and trauma.


Sport Canterbury, Sport New Zealand, Christchurch City Council and ChristchurchNZ wanted to do something. They, like The Christchurch Foundation, saw an opportunity to use sport as a vehicle to help increase the inclusion of ethnic minorities within Ōtautahi. Football and cricket, sports played and enjoyed globally by billions, appeared a logical place to start.



The BLACKCAPS and England’s first T20 match of the series in Christchurch generated $220,000 in gate sales. New Zealand Cricket, Christchurch City Council, Canterbury Cricket, New Zealand Cricket, ChristchurchNZ, The Canterbury Cricket Trust, New Zealand Football Foundation and VBase have all contributed to this fund, and we wish to thank them for their generosity and foresight.


Christchurch City Council, Sport Canterbury and Sport New Zealand used this to kickstart the Sports Inclusivity Fund, used to identify challenges and opportunities to increase ethnic minority participation in sport and recreation. The outcomes of this work included the appointment of Hussain Hanif to a newly created Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion Programme Manager role.


Hussain Hanif
Hussain Hanif

Hanif will work across Canterbury Cricket and Mainland Football, which are two of the most popular sports in the region, and are widely played by ethnic communities.


Canterbury Cricket and Mainland Football are delighted to be able to work together in such an important space. Both sports recognise that there is much to do to make everyone feel more included. Hanif will also be focused on increasing the number of boys and girls, men and women participating across all levels of the two codes.



“The opportunity to work more closely with our ethnic communities has come from the tragic events of the March 15 attacks. Sport has a wonderful ability to bring communities together. Both cricket and football were impacted by the tragedy, and it feels right to work together on a project like this, albeit delayed by COVID,” said Jez Curwin, CEO of Canterbury Cricket.


Mainland Football CEO Julian Bowden added, “We are thrilled to have been able to get Hussain on board. He adds depth to both our organisations and brings focus  to ensure that we are connecting with everyone that wants to play, no matter what the level.”


Hanif has a background in Diversity and Inclusion, having previously held roles with Cricket Victoria in Melbourne where he was the Diversity and Inclusion participation specialist, and at the Melbourne Renegades in community sport.


He is excited by the opportunities the new role presents to break down barriers and bring social change through sports.


“What Mainland Football and Canterbury Cricket are working to achieve is for cricket and football to become inclusive of all. This is a unique opportunity to have a direct impact within specific community groups while using my experience across two sporting codes in Christchurch. I appreciate there is a lot of work to be done but that is the exciting part,” said Hanif.


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