ExerciseNZ's Richard Beddie slams All Blacks move for more Government backing

Exercise Association of New Zealand (ExerciseNZ) Chief Executive Richard Beddie has slammed the All Blacks’ call for more Government funding, saying more money should be given to more popular physical activities.

Speaking this morning to TVNZ 1's Breakfast, Beddie said the All Blacks should "go away and stop trying to take our money" because elite sport receives the lion's share of Government funding compared with more popular physical activities.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen last month told media he had spoken to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson about funding when they met after a match at Eden Park.

Hansen said he told the pair "they should be our biggest sponsors, because we're their biggest brand", asking Prime Minister Ardern if she could "find some money to help us compete against the likes of England and France so we can keep our players".

However, Beddie today advised that getting more people active, especially children, should be the priority for that funding pool, advising “we're not well-represented in activity or obesity levels worldwide.

"We're now number three in obesity ... 50% (of New Zealanders) don't do enough (exercise and) the cost of obesity and type two diabetes alone - it's going to cripple most Western health systems in the next 20 years."

Beddie (pictured) said he realised it would be controversial to suggest it, but the All Blacks should be happy with what they get, adding “to be blunt, in New Zealand, elite sport gets way too much money when you compare it with participation.

"We've got a problem that sport gets most of the funding, when in fact sport is declining in participation levels, whereas recreation activities such as going to the gym or dancing or yoga actually gets a very small percentage - less than 10% of that pot.

"But in fact, that's where people are choosing to spend their time these days.

"I love the All Blacks, I want the All Blacks to win, but the problem is when they are trying to compete with the same pot of money to trying to get more kids active.

"If we look at children - we have the biggest problem with children and activity levels, because less than 10% do enough ... that's where the real problem lies.

"That is really about our future."