Olivia Podmore inquest: Hearing to resume following lengthy adjournment
Photo:
Diane Mason / Composite RNZ
This story discusses mental health and suicide. A list of helplines is available at the bottom of the page.
The coronial inquest into the death of Olympic sprint cyclist Olivia Podmore resumes in Christchurch on Tuesday following an abrupt halt to the proceedings last year.
The three-week inquest before Coroner Louella Dunn was originally set to wrap in early December, however, the hearing was
adjourned in the final week to allow a continuation of evidence
.
RNZ is unable to report the reasons for the need for a continuation.
The shock death of the young athlete in August 2021 was referred to the Hamilton Coroner's Court. However, the remaining three days of the inquest will be heard in Christchurch, where Podmore's family is from, to help ease some of the financial burden on them.
The court will this week hear further evidence from forensic psychiatrist Dr Erik Monasterio, the independent expert witness.
It is also expected Podmore's family will give their final statements to the court.
Podmore's mother, Nienke Middleton, described the first three weeks of the hearing as "emotionally draining", but she was relieved that after two major inquiries into Cycling NZ and High Performance Sport NZ, her daughter's harrowing experiences were finally coming to light.
Here's what we've learned so far at the inquest:
During the first week of the inquest the court heard evidence
Podmore was subjected to "relentless" bullying and intimidation
after unwittingly exposing an affair between a coach and athlete during a training camp in Bordeaux - three weeks out from the Rio Olympic Games.
The teen was pressured to lie to protect the coach and athlete, and was blamed for causing disruption to the camp in the lead-up to the Games.
Nicholle Bailey, the ex-wife of the disgraced coach, gave evidence the coach refused to wheel Podmore to the startline before her races at the Olympics and told her: "You do not deserve to be here".
"The whole Games [the coach] was messaging her telling she didn't deserve to be there and she should be grateful," she said.
"She told me that as she was leaving the pits he whispered in her ear, 'Don't crash, don't f***ing crash, just don't f***ing crash'."
Nicholle Bailey giving evidence at the inquest into the death of Olivia Podmore in December 2024.
Photo:
Mark Jephson / Stuff
Bailey said her former husband continued to target Podmore after the team returned from the Games.
"[The coach] would berate Olivia on all aspects of her personal life. Who she was seeing and when, what she ate, the size of her bottom, her haircut, how many boys she slept with and more. It was relentless," said Bailey.
Despite what one health practitioner termed as a
"serious breach in athlete safeguarding" in the build-up to the Rio Olympics
, Cycling NZ did not take any further action against the coach until nearly two years later.
Former Cycling NZ chief executive Andrew Matheson
told the court he did not have evidence to take formal action until Podmore, worn down by two years of "mental abuse" lodged a complaint after the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
"I was clearly aware of rumours ... but we did not have any real evidence that demonstrated that relationship," Matheson said.
Andrew Matheson led Cycling NZ from 2014-2018.
Photo:
Photosport
However, former Cycling NZ team manager Jess Massey gave evidence that she had been formally documenting concerns about "ethical and behavioural issues" involving the coach for more than two years prior to the Bordeaux incident.
The court also heard evidence of an email sent by former Cycling NZ chair Simon Perry in mid-2017, which referenced an "anonymous informant", who confirmed the inappropriate relationship between the coach and athlete.
"I have spoken first hand with the informant and confirmed that the circumstances described are factual ... Something serious to deal with, the ripple effect is significant," the email read.
Podmore's complaint eventually led to an independent inquiry into Cycling NZ headed by former solicitor general Mike Heron KC.
The court heard Podmore
told a health practitioner in January 2021 that she was having thoughts of taking her own life
.
She told the practitioner she felt flat, both physically and mentally since endometriosis surgery in October 2020 and that she sometimes wondered if she would be better off dead.
"I was very concerned obviously. That's the first time she'd presented with any thoughts of self-harm or suicide, and that's a very serious thing to say," the practitioner wrote in his evidence.
He queried whether she had made any plans or searched methods, which she had not, and discussed a safety plan including who to call if she had the thoughts again.
Olivia Podmore died in August 2021 in a suspected suicide.
Photo:
Photosport
Two health practitioners treating Podmore also testified that it was recognised that the Tokyo Olympic Games - which the sprint cyclist missed selection for - would be a difficult time for the young athlete. Plans were made for Podmore to receive additional support during the Games period, but the first check-in was not scheduled until August 6 - two days out from the closing ceremony.
Podmore cancelled the appointment as she was away down in Queenstown snowboarding at the time. Three days later the practitioner received the tragic news that Podmore had died in a suspected suicide.
"More assertive steps should have been taken" when Podmore first reported suicidal ideation, according to independent expert witness
Dr Erik Monasterio, an independent expert witness
, told the court when Podmore's state of mind deteriorated to expressing suicidal thoughts, health practitioners should have considered more interventions.
"Given her known history of having been considered a whistleblower, given the stress in her relationship with the sporting bodies, and what seems to me to be a fairly pervasive pattern of fluctuating but definite deterioration in mental state, more assertive steps should have been taken at that time."
Monasterio said suicidal ideation to deal with stress, especially at a young age, was not a normal response and should have been a warning flag - especially as it was a new response in January 2021.
Dr Monasterio also told the court there appeared to be a widespread lack of recognition among Cycling NZ officials and medical staff about the impact being a "whistleblower" had on Podmore's wellbeing.
"Here is a young woman, who, at a very early age, finds herself in a very stressful situation," Dr Monasterio said.
Dr Erik Monasterio, a forensic psychiatrist, is assisting coroner Louella Dunn as an independent expert witness.
Photo:
Pool / NZME - Mike Scott
"It's interesting that this concept of her being a whistleblower isn't identified as a key issue, and the reason I say that is that the impact of whistleblowing is relatively well understood in science and in clinical practice, and it's very sad to say, that people who whistle blow don't do well.
"She did not receive any assistance to try to come to terms and manage the impact of the whistleblowing, which carried quite a burden for her."
Dr Monasterio's evidence will continue this week.
After Podmore's death, HPSNZ launched another major inquiry into Cycling NZ and the wider system.
Cycling NZ's current chief executive, Simon Peterson, gave evidence the
sport has undergone a marked cultural transformation since the findings of the second inquiry were published
.
Peterson said one of the biggest developments he has seen during his time at the organisation is the appointment of a fulltime people and culture manager.
The Cycling NZ boss said when an issue is reported by an athlete, the people and culture manager "immediately removes the conversation from the HP space and says 'what is best for the person' not the programme".
"It's been a game changer in terms of bringing issues to the fore."
Sport NZ chief executive Raelene Castle said Podmore's "very real legacy" can be seen in the many reforms the government agency has undertaken in the wake of the young athlete's tragic death.
She highlighted changes to the Tailored Athlete Pathway Support (TAPS) system as something that has made a "significant difference" in athletes' lives.
Castle said TAPS payments to athletes increased in 2024 to $50,000 per year for those on an elite training grant, and $25,000 for athletes on a potential training grant.
"The most significant change is that most of the elite grants will now be guaranteed for four years to give athletes more certainty around how long they are going to be funded for, and this was instigated on the back of consultation with our athlete voice groups."
Castle also pointed to other reforms including beefing up record keeping, improving the organisation's electronic health systems, education programmes for coaches, and a greater focus on women's health as being evidence of her organisation's commitment to wellbeing.
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Newsroom
5 hours ago
- Newsroom
Māmā Kells raises the bar for women in weightlifting
Sport has been a constant in Kelly Ihaka-Pitama's life. As a teenager, she was a talented shot put and discus thrower, competing against world champion Beatrice Faumuina. She rose to Commonwealth Games level, but never got the chance to compete at a Games. Instead, Ihaka-Pitama studied sports science and worked in the sporting industry until she was 22, when she met her future husband. They bought a home and travelled, then Ihaka-Pitama began a successful career in freight forwarding and logistics. But sport was never far from her mind, and she started coaching athletics and netball. At 40, Ihaka-Pitama fell ill with a tumour in her thyroid. After surgery, she joined a gym, started doing CrossFit and was soon hooked on weightlifting. 'I love the sport. It's been a whirlwind relationship that's gone from zero to 100,' she says. 'I wish I'd found weightlifting at 16.' She still competes in lifting and is the current New Zealand champion in her 45-49 age group, holding national masters records in two weight divisions, competing out of the Papatoetoe Weightlifting Club. 'I'm the oldest lifter at the club, and I get called 'Māmā Kells',' says the 50-year-old, of Te Aupōuri descent. 'That's the kind of aura I bring to any space I work in. And it's something that weightlifting was missing.' Kelly Ihaka-Pitama challenged the thinking of those running weightlifting in NZ during her residency. Photo: Thomas Hamill Photography Ihaka-Pitama was working as a team leader in freight forwarding when she got talking to Simon Kent, the president of Weightlifting New Zealand, who also coaches at the Papatoetoe club. With her business background, Kent thought she'd be perfect for the Women in High Performance residency experience – working for weightlifting's national body. 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1News
11 hours ago
- 1News
Community removes third traffic chicane after uproar
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The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including new corruption report, California protests, and Justin Baldoni's legal loss. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT Birchwood Lane is home to 5000 square metre lifestyle blocks and bare paddocks with a cycle lane on one side; connecting Airport Rd to a Waikato Expressway exit into Hamilton, via Wiremu Tamihana and Alfred Main drives. The council data showed the average speed on the road was 60km/h and about 15% of drivers were speeding at more than 70kmh. Resident Lauren McLean previously told RNZ she could not let her children walk or bike to school unescorted because they had to cross Birchwood Lane to access the cycleway, and there were too many drivers doing excessive speeds to do so safely. On Friday, a survey was posted to the Matangi/Tamahere Residents' page on Facebook asking people to give their thoughts on pedestrian crossings and other measures to make Birchwood Lane and surrounding roads safer, particularly for children. "Following a recent meeting with council regarding the installation of traffic calming measures on Birchwood Lane, it has become evident that a majority of residents are dissatisfied with both the process and the outcome," the survey said. "The measures were implemented without adequate consultation or transparent communication with the community. "The council has failed to provide sufficient justification for the measures beyond a general claim of reducing resident speeds." ADVERTISEMENT Two cars meet at the only remaining one-lane traffic calming measure on Birchwood Lane. (Source: May said at the meeting Birchwood Lane had become an alternative route for rat-runners trying to get from Airport Rd — which linked State Highway 3 with SH1 — into the city without using the Tamahere on-ramp to the expressway because of congestion at that roundabout. Speeding around school hours But Birchwood Lane resident Andrew Mowbray, one of four who set up the survey, pointed out the data from 2022 showed speeding on the road happened between 8am and 9am and 2pm and 3pm, during the times when Tamahere Model Country School began and ended, indicating residents were the culprits. The council's traffic calming device policy from June last year stated a road where the problem was caused by residents of the street might be considered less suitable for such a device. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) policy stated such devices should not impair visibility. The survey said the location of the trial "does not align with the stated goal of improving safety and instead introduces new risks". ADVERTISEMENT "Council's actions have misaligned with both NZTA guidelines and its own policy, and the needs of the community," Mowbray said. "The unilateral decision-making over a public asset, especially where no clear threat to vulnerable road users exists, sets a concerning precedent." Mowbray said there had been 170 responses to the survey so far, details of which would be released to the council first. Third chicane 'gone' In a letter sent on Monday to those who attended the meeting, May confirmed a third chicane, which residents said made it difficult to see oncoming traffic during times of sun strike and fog because it was installed on the brow of a hill, was gone. "This device was planned to be removed, but has since been done by members of the community." She said the two other chicanes removed earlier would not be reinstated and only the chicane closest to Devine Rd, near the Tamahere school and shops, would remain. ADVERTISEMENT May said most at the meeting were strongly opposed to the chicanes despite agreeing something needed to be done. 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Zebra crossing 'isn't suitable' Potholes would be fixed, and the council would investigate the best option for a safe pedestrian crossing. "A simple zebra crossing isn't suitable for this kind of road as it's been proven to create more risk to children when used alone on a road like this. "A raised platform crossing with lighting and signage may be possible and would need to be fully funded by WDC as there are currently no funding subsidies available." Reopening Newell Rd, which joined Birchwood Lane at one end and was once a thoroughfare to the old State Highway 1 into Hillcrest, would not be part of the council's project but she said it would support conversations with NZTA if it decided to open it. May said in her letter the council would work with the residents running the survey but noted while any information collected would be considered, "official collection of data will be via our website".


Scoop
11 hours ago
- Scoop
Government Warned Corruption And ‘Insider Threats' Increasing In New Zealand
Article – RNZ That's despite New Zealand's longstanding reputation as a country largely free of such issues. The government has been warned that corruption and 'insider threats' are increasing in New Zealand, despite the country's longstanding reputation as a country largely free of it. An advisory group says the country is poorly prepared to tackle the increasing threat and recommends developing a national anti-corruption strategy and modernising the Crimes Act, which the Minister responsible says is key. The Ministerial Advisory Group on transnational and organised crime was set up in February to provide independent advice and recommendations to improve the cross-government response to what Associate Minister of Police Casey Costello described as ' an increasing threat.' Previous reports have said New Zealand was 'losing the fight' against organised crime, and specified a need for police to have greater financial powers to fight it. The third report has stated New Zealand's 'lucrative market' and established crime networks have made the country 'more susceptible than ever' to corruption and insider threats. It also pointed to the 'deteriorating situation in the Pacific' as making the region more vulnerable. It defined corruption as the 'abuse of access or authority to advance the objectices of organised crime'. 'It is a critical enabler of organised crime, particularly at national borders. It grants criminal networks access to protection, sensitive information, and operational impunity. 'This is a real and increasing threat,' the report said. The group was told by enforcement agencies about 'trusted insiders' at ports and airports helping to retrieve concealed shipments of illicit drugs before customs inspections. 'That information is consistent with an unpublished global report which estimates that 70 percent of maritime seizures worldwide involved links to trusted insiders.' It raised a specific concern in the Pacific where exposure is increased due to expansive maritime borders, strategic trade corridors and growing cross-border flows of goods and people. 'When individuals in border security, customs, or immigration are compromised, criminal groups can exploit these weak points to smuggle drugs, weapons, other illicit goods, and people with minimal detection. 'Bribery, coercion, and cronyism can transform ports, airports, and checkpoints into open channels.' If corruption was left unchecked, the report warned it could erode the integrity of New Zealand's institutions and undermine its collective security. 'We are already seeing increasing pressure on Pacific nations which have limited capacity to detect, investigate and prosecute organised crime threats. 'The financial incentives offered by organised crime groups can be tempting – especially for those working in jobs with useful access, but low pay, in New Zealand and within the Pacific.' The advisory group reports to Costello who told RNZ she was not surprised by the contents of the report, except to learn that New Zealand was the only Five Eyes member who did not have an anti-corruption strategy. She did however believe New Zealanders might be shocked to learn corruption was getting worse, 'we've kind of considered ourselves as a little bit of a haven'. The report specified New Zealand's 'reputation as a country largely free from corruption has long been a source of national pride and international credibility'. But also pointed this had led to a 'degree of inertia,' referencing Julie Haggie, chief executive of Transparency International NZ, who said in the report 'New Zealand's response to increasing corruption pressures over several years has been lacklustre and complacent'. 'New Zealand is poorly prepared to deter and tackle the increasing threat of corruption, but that is not to say nothing is being done,' said the report. Costello said the report was not suggesting organisations were corrupt, but the ability for organised crime to target individuals was there. 'That's where we see that familial or cultural pressures, that ability to have control over individuals, and that's not just in the drug world.' She said New Zealand was not out of control, but the country needed to shift the way it was doing things, strengthen legislation and put clear strategies in place. Costello believed bringing the Crimes Act up to date to deal with corruption was one of the key recommendations. She said work being done at the moment was bringing agencies together to have consistency around sharing information. Another recommendation was to have a centralised agency that would have oversight across all agencies. 'Whether that's in the public service commission, or whether it's in police or SFO [Serious Fraud Office] or a new agency, it's having that one oversight so that we work more cooperatively.' In regards to the Pacific, she said it was important New Zealand supported its economic growth and viability. 'When people are poor, then the amount of money you need to corrupt someone is relatively low. 'Leaning in more to support those economies to help them not just gain knowledge, but actually keep these systems in place. 'How do they optimise their control of their border so they're collecting excise, that they're optimising the revenue they can get from legitimate business, as well as ensuring that they aren't corrupted.' She said the reports were about making New Zealanders more aware about organised crime and an appreciation of the challenges that it presents.