Funding released to assist New Zealand sport recovery at all levels

The New Zealand Government has announced its first major release of funding - $80million – to assist in the recovery of sport from community level through to elite sport. The funding will come from the $265 million Sport Recovery Package announced at Budget 2020.

New Zealand Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for Finance, Grant Robertson advised “today we’re setting out how $80 million will be invested, with $54 million of that over the 2020/2021 financial year for organisations from community level through to elite level.

“All levels of the sector have been affected by COVID-19 and this funding is focused on making sure the sector continues to thrive, while also ensuring New Zealanders can continue to maintain their wellbeing through physical activity.”

This first release of funding from the Sport Recovery Package includes:

• A $68 million fund (Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa) to support community sport. This builds on the KiwiSport Regional Partnership fund to provide quality opportunities for young people who are missing out, particularly in higher deprivation areas. ($34 million is from the Sport Recovery Package with the remaining $34 million from existing Sport NZ baselines).

• A $25.4 million fund for Sport NZ’s national partners to strengthen and adapt. This funding will also support specific sports with the cost of running premier national leagues affected by COVID-19 (including basketball).

• $10 million for a second Community Resilience Fund to provide further immediate support to a broader range of eligible local and regional organisations.

• An initial $7.3 million package to improve facilities for New Zealand’s upcoming hosting of world cups.

Minister Robertson notes “Sport NZ has also earmarked $3 million for individuals and families in financial hardship who are unable to take part in sport and recreation opportunities. Details on how this funding will be distributed will be released in coming weeks.

“All the funding announced today, and the remainder of the package will continue to place a specific emphasis on groups who are traditionally less active or are missing out, including women and girls, Māori, disabled people and our high deprivation communities.

“Having prioritised initiatives that focus on the areas in most need of support, Sport NZ will continue to engage with the sector to decide how the remaining $180 million is best spent over the next four years to help sport recover, strengthen and adapt.”

Applications for funds, which will open for application by the end of August, can be made through Sport NZ’s website. 

Image courtesy of Sport NZ