School sport is a critical pipeline for community sport participation and high performance pathways. New Zealand invests significantly in physical activity in schools. This guide covers the key funding sources for school sport programmes.
Sport NZ invests in school sport:
- Sport in Schools: Community coaches delivering sport in primary schools
- Physical Literacy: Active fundamentals for primary-age children
- Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa: Community sport participation including school sport
- School sport coordinators: RST-employed coordinators working in schools
Ministry of Education funds sport through:
- Physical Education: Curriculum-linked physical activity
- School sport budget: Schools can access MINEDU funding for sport
- Healthy Active Learning: Food and physical activity in schools
NZSSSC coordinates secondary school sport:
- Interschool sport competitions at regional and national level
- Sport codes at secondary school level
- School sport leadership development
- Secondary Schools Sport database and records
RSTs work extensively in schools:
- Aktive Auckland: Auckland school sport — primary and secondary
- Sport Wellington: Wellington school sport
- Sport Canterbury: Canterbury school sport delivery
- Sport Waikato: Waikato school sport programmes
RST school sport programmes:
- Itinerant coaches visiting primary schools
- Fundamental movement skills programmes
- Inter-school sport coordination
- School to club connections
National sport organisations deliver school programmes:
- Football NZ: Junior Grassroots Football in schools
- Netball New Zealand: Netball in schools
- Cricket NZ: Kiwi Cricket in schools
- Bowls NZ: Lawn bowls in schools
- Athletics NZ: Cross country and athletics
- Swimming NZ: Swim school programmes
Gaming trusts fund school sport:
- Four Winds Foundation: School sport equipment and programme grants
- Grassroots Trust: Primary and secondary school sport
- Pub Charity: Equipment for school sport
- Lion Foundation: School sport development
Gaming trust school sport applications:
- Sports equipment (balls, nets, bibs)
- PE equipment for physical education
- Inter-school competition costs (transport, fees)
- Coaching and instructor costs
Councils invest in school sport:
- Community facilities: Shared use of council facilities for school sport
- School sport grants: Council sport development grants for schools
- Aquatic centres: School swimming programmes
- Athletics tracks: School athletics competitions
Healthy Active Learning (Sport NZ and Ministry of Education joint programme):
- Schools committed to daily physical activity
- Food and nutrition alongside physical activity
- Health and PE curriculum delivery support
Physical literacy investment:
- Fundamental movement skills: Balance, coordination, locomotion
- Sport NZ resources: Teacher resources for physical literacy
- RST coaches: Specialists in primary school physical literacy
- PE curriculum: Movement and physical learning in primary curriculum
Targeted investment:
- Te Puni Kōkiri: Māori student sport and physical activity
- Ministry for Pacific Peoples: Pacific student sport
- Kura kaupapa Māori: Sport in Māori-medium schools
- RSTs: Targeted programmes for Māori and Pacific schools
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Student participation: Numbers by age, gender, school year
- Curriculum connection: Links to PE curriculum and physical literacy
- Inclusion: Girls, Māori, Pacific, disability inclusion
- Sustainability: Programme delivery beyond single grant
- Community connection: School to club sport pathway
- Volunteer coaches: Parent and community volunteering
- Competition: Inter-school sport outcomes
- Teacher engagement: Teacher capability in physical activity delivery
Tahua's grants management platform helps schools and RSTs manage school sport grant applications across Sport NZ, Ministry of Education, gaming trusts, and community funders, tracking student participation, physical activity, and sport pathway outcomes.