Figure skating in New Zealand is a small but committed winter sport community, dependent on ice rink access in Auckland, Christchurch, and a few other centres. Ice Skating New Zealand governs the sport. This guide covers the key funding sources for figure skating clubs and programmes.
Ice Skating New Zealand is the national governing body for figure skating and related ice disciplines:
- Singles, ice dance, synchronised skating, and para figure skating
- National championship events
- International competition pathway through ISU
Contact Ice Skating NZ for access to Sport NZ investment and national programme guidance.
Sport NZ funds figure skating through Ice Skating NZ:
- National programme investment
- Winter sport development
RSTs can fund community ice skating development.
RSTs in regions with ice rinks:
- Equipment grants for skating clubs
- Junior skating programme support
- Women's sport participation
Key RSTs:
- Aktive Auckland: Paradice rinks support Auckland figure skating
- Sport Canterbury: The Hub ice rink in Christchurch
Gaming trusts fund figure skating clubs:
- Four Winds Foundation: Community sport organisations
- Grassroots Trust: Club sport development
- Pub Charity: Equipment and programme support
- Lion Foundation: Junior sport development
Gaming trust applications for figure skating typically cover:
- Beginner skate hire library
- Competition costumes and uniforms
- Ice time subsidies for junior skaters
- Training equipment and harnesses
Ice time is the primary ongoing cost:
- Auckland: Paradice North Shore and other rinks
- Christchurch: The Hub (formerly Dreamland)
- Gaming trusts and RSTs can fund ice time as a direct programme cost in grant applications
Equipment costs:
- Ice skates: Entry-level hire skates for beginners; custom boots $500–$2,000+ for competitive skaters
- Blades: Separate for advanced competitive skaters
- Costumes: Competitive skating requires performance costumes
- Harness systems: For learning jumps safely
- Protective equipment: Helmets for beginning skaters
Junior development is the sport's primary pathway:
- Learn-to-skate: Entry point at public sessions
- Club beginner programmes: Group lessons for young skaters
- Graded test system: Progression through levels
- Junior championships: State and national events
Ice dance:
- Partnered discipline: Requires pairs of skaters
- Small community in NZ but active at national level
- Shared infrastructure with singles skating
Synchronised skating (team skating in formation):
- Growing discipline: Teams of up to 20 skaters
- Small community in NZ
Adaptive ice skating:
- Paralympics NZ: Para sport investment where relevant
- Disability sport organisations: Adaptive skating programmes
- Sit skating and adaptive equipment for athletes with physical disability
Lottery Sport funds community sport:
- Figure skating clubs with active community programmes can apply
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Participant numbers: Skaters by level, age, and discipline
- Ice time commitment: Training hours per week at affiliated rinks
- Junior development: Children in learn-to-skate and progressive club programmes
- Competition: Sanctioned events at regional and national level
- Equipment: Skate hire library, costumes — justified per programme
- Para skating: Disability inclusion if applicable
- Club governance: Financial health, affiliation to Ice Skating NZ
- Community reach: Public engagement through events and demonstrations
Tahua's grants management platform helps figure skating clubs manage grant applications across Sport NZ, RSTs, and gaming trusts, tracking the participation and programme outcomes that funders value.