I am writing to formally report a serious integrity concern regarding an athlete recently selected for the 2026 Commonwealth Games: Sonya Marie Woodrow (Lawn Bowls).

I am making this report as the athlete’s son. I believe her selection violates the NZOC “Good Character” requirements and presents a significant reputational and safeguarding risk to the New Zealand Team.

Specifically, I wish to report a history of conduct that demonstrates a lack of integrity and fitness to represent New Zealand:

Classification and Disability Deception: The athlete has a history of faking medical conditions (including cancer) and has previously manipulated disability services. Most significantly, she forced me as a child to lie to the Blind Foundation about my own eyesight, coached me to claim it was worse than it was, i assume for financial gain. This pattern of deceptive behaviour is highly relevant to her current status as a Para-athlete in a Vision Impaired (B2) classification.

Documented History of Abuse: There is a history of severe physical and emotional abuse toward her children. There is a verifiable paper trail with Child, Youth and Family (now Oranga Tamariki) regarding formal concerns I raised for the safety and welfare of my younger sister while in her care.

Extreme Psychological Manipulation: The athlete has engaged in severe emotional deception, including telling my brother that his father was dead, only for it to be discovered 12 years later that he was alive.

Substance Abuse: A history of drug use that is inconsistent with the standards of the NZOC Integrity Regulations.

Why this matters for the 2026 Games:

The NZOC Selection Policy mandates that athletes be of “good character” and must not bring the sport into disrepute. The evidence of her coaching a child to commit disability fraud, combined with a history of child abuse and psychological manipulation, makes her unfit to represent New Zealand. Her inclusion presents a major safeguarding risk to the team and a massive reputational liability to the NZOC

Tj Woodrow