GymSports NZ dismay at $1.6 million funding cut

GymSports NZ has expressed “dismay” at learning that its funding from Sport New Zealand is to be cut by an annual sum of $400,000, a 62% decrease in its funding.

In the last week, Sport NZ have announced its funding arrangements for delivery partners in community sport for the next four-year cycle, beginning from 1st July 2016. Of the 86 applicants linked to this funding, there have been a mixture of increases, retentions and decreases in funding.

 Sport NZ has indicated a significant shift in strategic focus as a key factor in the decision making process with a strategic focus directed at the ‘channel to market’ opportunities for participation with a particular emphasis on in-curricular activity.

This focus also targets currently identified participation demographics that are underrepresented in sport and recreation activity.

This has seen Sport NZ reposition NSOs like GymSports NZ within the sport and recreation space through the funds allocation process. This is based on Sport NZ’s assessment of each NSO’s ability to meet the demands of their new focus areas.

While funding has been significantly reduced, a $1.28 million investment over four years by Sport NZ remains for GymSports NZ to continue the cultivation of competition and pathway development.

Commenting on the funding cut, GymSports NZ Chief Executive Tony Compier stated “this is a significant blow to the gymsports community in New Zealand.

“We accept Sport NZ’s right to shift strategic focus to other areas of targeted participation but we are however surprised, given our Clubs’ successful delivery track record in increasing participation opportunities, that Sport NZ do not see this being maintained by us moving forward.

“The funding decision also does not take into account the significant work that will be required to not only maintain, but to grow participation in current areas of engagement.

“We are gravely concerned this will result in less participation which is an outcome neither ourselves nor Sport NZ would desire.”

The new investment is an annual baseline figure of $250,000 with an additional one off sum of $280,000 to assist the organisation to manage the severity of the decrease.

Compier added “whilst we are still coming to terms with the implications of such a severe reduction in funding, we believe strongly in the value that the gymsports community presents.

“We are confident that this value will continue well in to the future and we will work closely with our members to ensure they are given the best possible opportunity to convert this value in to participation opportunities for all New Zealanders.”

In Australia, a recently released study from Roy Morgan Research found that gymnastics was one of the top 10 most participated sports among children.

Image courtesy of Hutt Valley GymSports.

13th December 2015 - SPORT NEW ZEALAND AIMS TO ENSURE KIWIS STAY IN SPORT AND ACTIVE RECREATION

24th November 2015 - FOOTBALL OVERTAKES SWIMMING TO BECOME AUSTRALIA’S MOST POPULAR SPORT FOR CHILDREN

14th March 2013 - SPORT PARTICIPATION GROWS IN NEW ZEALAND SCHOOLS