Wheelchair tennis is a Paralympic sport played with the same rules as able-bodied tennis, with one adaptation: the ball may bounce twice. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) governs wheelchair tennis globally. Tennis New Zealand has a growing wheelchair tennis programme. This guide covers the key funding sources for wheelchair tennis in New Zealand.
Tennis New Zealand governs wheelchair tennis:
- National competition and development
- High performance pathway
- Junior wheelchair tennis
- Club development
Contact Tennis NZ for Sport NZ investment and national programme access.
Paralympics NZ funds wheelchair tennis:
- National programme investment
- High performance pathway
- Paralympic selection
Sport NZ funds wheelchair tennis through Tennis NZ and Paralympics NZ:
- Para-sport development investment
- Community participation
RSTs fund community wheelchair tennis.
RSTs fund wheelchair tennis clubs:
- Equipment grants for sports wheelchairs and loan fleet
- Junior development programmes
- Women's wheelchair tennis
Key RSTs:
- Aktive Auckland: Auckland wheelchair tennis community
- Sport Wellington: Wellington wheelchair tennis
- Sport Canterbury: Christchurch disability sport
CCS Disability Action and related organisations:
- Equipment grants for disability sport participation
- Inclusive sport development
- Community access for people with physical disability
Gaming trusts fund wheelchair tennis:
- Four Winds Foundation: Disability sport and community organisations
- Grassroots Trust: Community sport and recreation
- Pub Charity: Equipment and community grants
- Lion Foundation: Community sport
Gaming trust applications for wheelchair tennis:
- Tennis wheelchairs — $3,000–$8,000 each
- Wheelchair maintenance tools
- Rackets for club loan
- Junior sports chairs
- Court fees for disabled sessions
Tennis sports wheelchairs:
- Tennis wheelchair: Lightweight, angled wheels for court manoeuvrability — $3,000–$8,000+
- Club loan chairs: Beginner sports chairs — $2,000–$5,000
- Junior chairs: Adapted for younger players
Loan fleets transform access — players can try the sport before committing to purchase.
Junior development:
- Junior programmes: Tennis NZ junior disability pathway
- Schools wheelchair tennis: Physical education inclusion for students using wheelchairs
- Junior competition: Age-grade events
Quad wheelchair tennis for players with impairments in all four limbs:
- Electric wheelchairs permitted: Power chairs and adapted grip
- Quad draw: National and international quad competition
- Disability funders: Additional access for quad athletes
Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People:
- Disability sport participation support
- Sports wheelchair potentially fundable through disability support plans
Lottery Sport: Community wheelchair tennis clubs with active competition and development.
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Participant numbers: Players by disability category, age, and gender
- Sports wheelchairs: Loan fleet — specific chair count and condition
- Paralympic pathway: Connection to national and international competition
- Disability inclusion: Accessible programme across ability levels
- Junior development: Youth players and school programmes
- Women's participation: Female players across all levels
- Community access: Loan fleet enabling participation
- Organisation governance: Affiliation to Tennis NZ and Paralympics NZ
Tahua's grants management platform helps wheelchair tennis clubs manage grant applications across Tennis NZ, Paralympics NZ, Sport NZ, RSTs, and disability funders, tracking sports wheelchair fleet, participation, and Paralympic pathway outcomes.