New Zealand's extraordinary landscape makes it one of the world's premier trail running destinations. From the Kepler Challenge to the Tarawera Ultramarathon, trail running in New Zealand has grown enormously — and with it, the demand for grant funding to support events, clubs, trail development, and community participation. This guide covers the key funding sources for trail running in New Zealand.
Athletics New Zealand is the national governing body for track and field, road running, and mountain/trail running.
Trail and mountain running:
- Athletics New Zealand governs cross country and mountain running
- Trail running falls under a broader athletics/running umbrella
- Club development grants through Athletics New Zealand
Contact Athletics New Zealand and your regional athletics association for guidance on Sport NZ investment and club support.
Sport NZ funds community sport participation including running. Trail running clubs and events may access Sport NZ investment through:
- Regional Sport Trusts: Frontline community sport investment
- Participation-focused grants for running clubs with strong community programmes
- High performance pathway for elite trail runners through Athletics NZ
Regional Sport Trusts (RSTs) are the primary funders for community trail running activity:
- Sport Wellington / Aktive Auckland / Sport Canterbury / Sport BOP and others
- Club development grants
- Community event support
- Programme delivery for beginners and families
RSTs vary by region — approach your local RST early.
New Zealand gaming trusts are major funders for community sport including trail running:
- Four Winds Foundation
- Grassroots Trust
- Pub Charity
- Lion Foundation
- Southern Trust
Gaming trusts fund community clubs, equipment, junior programmes, and event costs. Not-for-profit trail running clubs with a community focus are well-positioned for gaming trust applications.
Many trail running events use DOC-managed tracks and reserves. DOC relationships are critical for:
- Event permits on conservation land
- Track development and maintenance partnerships
- Environmental stewardship as part of events
Some trail running events receive in-kind support through DOC track maintenance, but formal grants from DOC are limited — the relationship is primarily permission and partnership.
Trail running events often traverse regional park and council land:
- Event permits: Required for events on council land
- Track maintenance funding: Some councils invest in trail maintenance that benefits running
- Community sport grants: Some councils have small community sport funds
Trail advocacy organisations work on trail development and access:
- Cycling and trail advocacy organisations sometimes cover shared trail interests
- Mountain biking trusts have built trails that trail runners also use
- Trail funding from DOC partnerships benefits multiple users
Lottery Sport funds community sport organisations. Trail running clubs running community programmes can apply.
Smaller trail running events and clubs access philanthropic funding:
- Community foundations: Auckland Foundation, Wellington Community Trust, and others fund community events and sport
- Outdoor education funders: Connecting trail running to youth development opens additional sources
Building and maintaining trail infrastructure for running:
- DOC partnerships: For tracks on conservation estate
- Regional councils: For regional park trails
- Mountain biking trail funders: Shared trails (biking and running) can access cycling-specific funders like NZ Lottery Cycling Fund
- Community funders: For local trail upgrades
Trail running events vary from small local races to major international ultras. Funding differs by scale:
- Small community events: Gaming trusts, local sport trusts
- Major events with economic benefit: Regional economic development funds, tourism agencies (TIA)
- Conservation area events: DOC partnership and permit processes
Strong trail running applications demonstrate:
- Community participation: Not just elite racing — beginner programmes, family events
- Environmental responsibility: Leave No Trace, track care, conservation values
- Event safety: Medical planning, course marking, search and rescue relationships
- Māori land and cultural engagement: Consultation with tangata whenua for events crossing Māori land
- Youth development: Junior and school trail running programmes
- DOC and council alignment: Appropriate permits and stakeholder support
- Volunteer leadership: Club-run events with strong volunteer culture
Tahua's grants management platform helps outdoor sport organisations manage their grant applications, track event and club funding, and demonstrate the community and conservation outcomes that New Zealand funders value.