Athletics New Zealand welcomes HPSNZ funding boost while swimming among NSOs to have funding reduced

Athletics New Zealand has welcomed today's announcement from High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) that it will be one of the sports that will receive a share of $162.8 million being invested in 36 national sporting organisations (NSOs) over the next four years through to the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.    

This investment, totalling an increase of $1.6 million over the next four years, reflects the success of Athletics New Zealand’s high-performance program and highlights confidence in the future of the sport. The funding will enable the organisation to continue delivering the high-performance program, which supports both elite able-bodied and elite para-athletes on their journey to global success.

Athletics NZ Chief Executive, Cam Mitchell advised “this funding is a powerful recognition of the successes of our high-performance program over multiple Olympic and Paralympic cycles. It will allow us to continue our investment in programs that support both able-bodied and para-athletes, ensuring that our high-performance model continues to deliver world-class results.”

Since The Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, athletics has contributed an impressive 30% of New Zealand’s total medal haul. This sustained success reflects the sport’s depth of talent, world-class coaching programs and effective support systems.

$40.7 million per annum of HPSNZ funding will go directly to NSOs for their campaigns, high performance programmes and performance pathways. 

In addition, HPSNZ will invest $22 million per annum in Tailored Athlete Pathway Support (TAPS), a programme of investment to sports which supports the wellbeing and performance of eligible athletes in the high performance system.     

This TAPS investment is made up of $11.9 million per year which goes to athletes for financial support, and includes training and excellence grants, and health insurance.  From 2025 eligible athletes will receive $50,000 per annum as an Elite Training Grant, an increase of $17,500, while the Potential Training Grant will increase by $14,000 to $25,000 per annum. 

The remaining $10.1 million will be available for performance support which allows athletes to access health and wellbeing focussed performance medicine, nutrition, physiotherapy, performance science and performance life.   

An additional $800,000 per annum is available in a standalone fund for wellbeing initiatives.    

More information on HPSNZ 

Image. New Zealander George Beamish after winning the Men’s 1500 Metre Final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. Credit Athletics NZ.