Lacrosse is one of the world's oldest team sports, with a growing New Zealand community in both women's field lacrosse and box lacrosse. New Zealand has competed at international level in women's lacrosse and has active clubs in the main centres. Clubs need funding for specialist equipment, development, and competition. This guide covers the key funding sources for lacrosse in New Zealand.
Lacrosse New Zealand is the national governing body for lacrosse in New Zealand, affiliated with World Lacrosse.
Key disciplines:
- Women's field lacrosse
- Men's field lacrosse
- Box lacrosse (indoor variant)
- Soft lacrosse (schools entry-level programme)
Contact Lacrosse NZ and your regional association for guidance on Sport NZ investment and national programme access.
Sport NZ funds community sport participation. Lacrosse access:
- Investment through Lacrosse NZ as the national body
- RSTs fund community lacrosse clubs with active participation programmes
Women's lacrosse is a strength for Sport NZ applications given the sport's deep female participation.
RSTs fund community lacrosse:
- Club development grants
- Equipment grants (sticks, protective gear, balls)
- Field and facility contributions
- Junior and youth programme support
RSTs vary by region — contact your local RST for current grant rounds.
New Zealand gaming trusts fund community lacrosse clubs:
- Four Winds Foundation
- Grassroots Trust
- Pub Charity
- Lion Foundation
- Southern Trust
Gaming trusts fund:
- Lacrosse sticks, helmets, protective gear
- Soft lacrosse equipment for schools
- Junior programme development
- Club event costs
Lacrosse equipment is specialised by discipline:
- Women's field lacrosse: Sticks, protective eyewear, gloves, balls
- Men's field lacrosse: Sticks, helmets, shoulder pads, arm pads, gloves
- Box lacrosse: Modified equipment for indoor play
- Soft lacrosse: Entry-level sticks and foam balls for schools
Equipment grants are critical for community lacrosse clubs — beginners need club-owned gear to try the sport before purchasing their own.
Soft lacrosse is ideal for primary and intermediate schools:
- Lacrosse NZ soft lacrosse: National schools programme
- School sport funding: Ministry of Education sport programme grants
- RSTs: Schools sport development
School programmes are a strong pipeline for club recruitment.
Women's field lacrosse is New Zealand's strongest discipline:
- Lacrosse NZ women's development: National programme and representative team
- Sport NZ: Women in sport participation
- RSTs: Female participation grants
Junior lacrosse development is important for sport sustainability:
- Junior competitions and clubs
- Come-and-try programmes
- Development squads for talented juniors
Gaming trusts and RSTs fund junior lacrosse development.
Lottery Sport funds community sport organisations. Lacrosse clubs with active community programmes can apply through annual rounds.
Lacrosse has Indigenous North American origins — some clubs have explored connections between lacrosse's Indigenous heritage and tikanga Māori. This cultural angle may support engagement with Māori communities and relevant funders.
Strong lacrosse applications demonstrate:
- Participation numbers: Total players by age and gender
- Women's lacrosse: Female participation — this is lacrosse's strength
- Junior and schools programmes: Soft lacrosse for schools, junior club development
- Equipment needs: Justified lists by discipline and expected participant use
- Club governance: Financial health, volunteer structure
- Competition pathway: Local, national, and international engagement
- Growth trajectory: Evidence of growing participation and demand
Tahua's grants management platform helps sport organisations manage grant applications, track equipment and programme funding, and demonstrate the participation outcomes that lacrosse funders value.