Open letter to NZ Rugby vs INEOS sponsorship

2021-2022

In July 2021, NZ Rugby announced a $48-million-dollar, six-year partnership with INEOS, a British oil, gas and petrochemical giant. INEOS has lobbied to weaken green taxes and reduce restrictions on fracking. The company partners with multiple sport teams and it wasnot the first time it had been accused of using sports to ‘greenwash’ its reputation.

The reaction within the Kiwis in Climate conversations was immediate, heartfelt and energised. Although the 'sportswashing' deal had been raised by NGOs, KiC’s open letter tackled the issue in a different way.

Presenting as a non-partisan, professionally driven voice, the Kiwis in Climate open letter was able to gain mainstream media attention, encourage big-name signatories, and engage in a dialogue with NZ Rugby.

This leading Kiwis in Climate advocacy initiative was covered in Stuff, the NZ Herald, and dominated talkback for a few days, with many signatories taking interviews, including former All Black Bob Burgess, climate scientist Dave Frame, Sir Bob Harvey and KiC founder John Lang.

NZ Rugby response

To its credit, NZR initially engaged with our letter, responding publicly and meeting with KiC founder John Lang in London. At that meeting NZ Rugby's CEO Mark Robinson said it was producing a 'strategic roadmap' on decarbonisation, and promised opportunities to collaborate and engage with Kiwis in Climate. None of this ever materialised, and further outreach over the next year was brushed off.

Then in early 2025, INEOS and NZ Rugby parted ways prematurely, after a lawsuit from NZR over unfulfilled payments. INEOS cited "the deindustrialisation of Europe" and "extreme carbon taxes" for their lower profit margins and subsequent withdrawal from sponsorships (source: RNZ). New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson then also stepped down.

While this unconscionable partnership ended for reasons other than climate or sustainability, we take heart that Kiwis in Climate was a loud and clear voice against the deal, and our mahi added to the national discourse.

As RNZ’s Sports Journalist Jamie Wall put it,