Sport NZ Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa (via regional sports trusts)

Funding for play, active recreation and sport for 5-18 year olds, especially those who are less active.

Typically raises

$5,000

$1,000–12,000 per grant

About $357 per organiser hour

Based on one youth sport or recreation project

Is it right for us?

Money: $2,000–10,000
Work: A few evenings
Helpers: 1–2 people
Lead time: 1–2 months
Red tape: Some

Fairly common: well used by sport groups that know of it

People: 1-2
Organiser time: 8-20
Lead time: 1-3 months
Up-front cost: Nothing up front
Risk: none
Who can use it: Organisations only: schools, kura, iwi/hapū/marae, charitable trusts, incorporated societies, councils, even some businesses. Individuals are not eligible.

Suits: Scouts or Guides, Sports club or team

Less usual for: Primary or intermediate school, High school, Charity, Community group, marae or service club, Kapa haka, choir, theatre or band

When: Summer (Dec–Feb), Autumn (Mar–May), Winter (Jun–Aug), Spring (Sep–Nov)

How big a job: A few evenings, 1–2 people

How it works

The money, as an example sum

A typical grant here is about $5,000 (they run from $1,000–12,000). One approved application = about $5,000, for about 8-20 hours of paperwork and nothing paid up front.

From the typical figure on this page. Your result will differ.

Where the money figure comes from

Sport Auckland 2026-27: 'Fast Fund' raised to $12,000. Tū Manawa distributed $64m across 5,281 projects in July 2020-June 2024 (about $12,100 average; Sport NZ).

Last checked October 2026. Ran this? Tell us what you raised and we’ll use real results to improve the figures.

Step by step

Contact your regional sports trust (RST).
Describe the young people, their barriers, and how the activity removes them.
Cost the delivery (coaching, venue, equipment, transport).
Apply through the RST's portal.
Report on participation.

Getting the word out

Even a well-run plan fails if nobody hears about it.

Then tell people: Once the grant is in, tell people who funded it. Many funders ask you to; your grant letter says how.
When to start: Start when the grant is approved, and again when the money is spent: a photo of the new gear with a thank-you.

Where to put it

School, club and church newslettersYour own newsletter is free and read by the families most likely to say yes. Check when it closes.
Local Facebook pages and community groupsPost in your town’s community page and local groups (check their rules), and share from your group’s own page.
Free notices in local papersMany local papers print some community notices free: ask what they offer. Not every town still has one, so check what comes to your letterbox, and book early.

The full guide to getting the word out: every channel from flyers to the evening news, with lead times and costs.

What you’ll need

Place: Not neededNone needed
Landowner’s permission: Not needed
Council permit: Not needed
Food rules: Not neededNo food sold
Alcohol: Not neededNo alcohol sold
Gambling rules: Not neededNot gambling

Organisations only, for 5-18 year olds who are less active; administered through regional sports trusts.

Tips

Not for elite or representative travel; it's about participation.

Watch out for

Applying for an existing programme with no new access or reach.