Cricket enjoys a loyal following across New Zealand, from club competitions to Black Caps pathways. Community clubs, schools, and provincial associations all depend on grant funding to maintain grounds, develop players, and grow participation. This guide covers the key funding sources available to cricket organisations in New Zealand.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is the national governing body and receives Sport NZ investment that it distributes through its network.
Key programmes:
- Club Cricket Development: Funding to provincial associations for club and community cricket
- Junior Cricket: Investment in junior participation programmes (including 'Kiwi Cricket' for primary schools)
- Women's and Girls' Cricket: Dedicated funding for women's participation and the White Ferns pathway
- Coaching Accreditation: Subsidies for coaching education through provincial associations
- Māori and Pasifika Cricket: Targeted participation programmes
Access point: Most NZC funding flows through provincial associations (e.g., Auckland Cricket, Canterbury Cricket, Wellington Cricket). Contact your provincial association to understand what's available for your club or school.
Sport NZ invests in the sport sector primarily through national sport organisations like NZC and through regional sport trusts.
Direct relevance for cricket:
- Sport NZ investment in NZC includes an expectation of community reach
- Regional sport trusts funded by Sport NZ may have direct grant programmes for community clubs
New Zealand's gaming machine trusts are a primary source of equipment and facility grants for community cricket clubs.
Key trusts:
- New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT): National funder of community sport and recreation
- The Lion Foundation: Sport and recreation community grants
- Pub Charity: Community sport across New Zealand
- Trust Waikato, Trust Taranaki, Pub Charity, Pelorus Trust: Regional gaming trusts
What cricket clubs can fund via gaming trusts:
- Cricket equipment (bats, balls, pads, helmets, wickets, covers)
- Ground equipment (mowers, rollers, covers)
- Clubroom improvements
- Junior and youth programmes
- Transport costs
Important: Gaming trust grants typically require the club to be an incorporated society and to operate for community benefit, not profit.
The Lottery Grants Board distributes surplus from Lotto NZ for sport, recreation, arts, and community purposes.
For cricket organisations:
- Facility development and maintenance grants
- Equipment grants
- Programme development grants
Applications are processed through the Lottery Grants Board website with both national and regional committees.
New Zealand's regional sport trusts (RSTs) activate community sport and often have direct grant programmes or can connect clubs with other funders.
RSTs relevant to cricket include:
- Aktive — Auckland Sport and Recreation
- Sport Waikato
- Cricket Canterbury / Sport Canterbury
- Wellington Regional Sports Trust
- Sport Otago
Check with your regional sport trust for available funding rounds.
Community trusts and philanthropic foundations in each region may fund sport and recreation:
- Community Trust South
- Toi Foundation
- Nikau Foundation (Wellington)
- Acorn Foundation (Waikato)
These funders typically prioritise community access, inclusion, and youth development.
New Zealand schools can access cricket funding through:
- NZC's Kiwi Cricket programme: Primary school participation initiative delivered through provincial associations
- Ministry of Education grants: For sport facilities and PE equipment (school-specific)
- Regional sport trust school programmes: Often include delivery of cricket into schools
Schools wanting to grow cricket participation should connect with their provincial cricket association, which often has a community cricket coordinator who works with schools.
Strong applications from cricket clubs and schools typically address:
- Participation numbers: How many players, teams, and community members benefit
- Inclusion: Are women, girls, youth, Māori, Pasifika, and other diverse groups well represented?
- Community access: Is cricket accessible to people regardless of income or background?
- Specific use of funds: Clear, itemised budgets showing how funds will be spent
- Track record: Club history, membership trends, and previous grant management
Tahua's grants management platform helps sport organisations track multiple funding applications, manage reporting deadlines, and demonstrate community impact to funders.