The husband of New Zealand Olympian Anne Hare "has taken aim at the leaders of two of the country's biggest sports organisations, accusing them of not doing enough to bridge the gender gap in sporting boardrooms," according to Dana Johannsen of the NEW ZEALAND HERALD. Chris Hare "has written an open letter" to two of his old schoolmates, New Zealand Rugby Union CEO Steve Tew and Sport New Zealand CEO Peter Miskimmin, "urging them not to simply pay lip service to the need for better female representation in sporting boardrooms." The NZRU has never had a woman on its board but said last month, as part of the Grass Ceiling series, its members "recognise it is an issue for us" and hope the balance will be redressed in time. Referring to these comments, Chris Hare said that "the two men needed to back up their words with action." Hare wrote, "My partner had real issues in dealing with bullying, lack of respect, exclusive networks, being marginalised and ostracized." Anne Hare has served on the board of both Athletics NZ and the New Zealand Olympic Committee, but she said that she "was forced to quit because she was bullied and felt her opinions were constantly disregarded." She said, "It was shocking, absolutely shocking" (NZ HERALD, 2/26).
