Active transport — walking, cycling, and other non-motorised travel — is a physical activity, climate, and transport priority in New Zealand. Grants fund infrastructure, programmes, school travel, and community active transport initiatives. This guide covers the key funding sources.
Waka Kotahi is the primary active transport funder:
- Active transport programme: Walking and cycling infrastructure
- Cycle trails: National cycle trail network development
- Urban cycling: City cycling infrastructure
- School travel plans: Safe routes to schools
- Safe cycling on roads: Rural cycling infrastructure
Councils fund active transport:
- Walking and cycling plans: Local infrastructure investment
- Footpaths: Maintenance and new pedestrian infrastructure
- Cycle lanes: On-road and off-road cycling facilities
- Community active transport: Grants for local walking and cycling programmes
Sport NZ funds active transport as physical activity:
- Walk and cycle to school: Programmes increasing active school travel
- Green Prescription: Walking as health referral
- Community walking: Walking groups and events
- Cycling as sport and recreation: Community cycling programmes
Cycling NZ develops cycling as sport:
- Community cycling development
- Club development
- Safety and education
NZCT coordinates the Great Rides cycle trail network:
- Trail development: Capital investment in new trails
- Trail maintenance: Ongoing trail operations
- Tourism: Cycle tourism as economic driver
Gaming trusts fund active transport community initiatives:
- Four Winds Foundation: Community walking and active recreation
- Grassroots Trust: Community active transport
- Pub Charity: Community walking groups and events
- Lion Foundation: Community active recreation
Getting children walking and cycling to school:
- Waka Kotahi: Safe routes to school
- Sport NZ: Active school travel programmes
- Walking school buses: Volunteer-led walking to school
- Bike racks: School cycling infrastructure
E-bike growth:
- Councils: E-bike library schemes
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA): Clean transport
- Community funders: E-bike access for people unable to cycle conventionally
Community walking programmes:
- Sport NZ Green Prescription: Medical referral to walking
- RSTs: Walking groups across NZ
- Age Concern NZ: Senior walking groups
- Nordic walking: Poles-assisted walking for fitness
Economic development through cycling:
- Tourism NZ: Cycle tourism promotion
- Regional economic development: Cycle trail as rural economic driver
- NZCT: Great rides trail investment
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Mode shift: Trips shifted from car to walking/cycling
- Participation: People walking and cycling — numbers by age and mode
- Safety: Reduced conflicts and crashes
- Health outcomes: Physical activity levels and wellbeing
- School travel: Children walking and cycling to school
- Climate: Carbon reduction from mode shift
- Equity: Access to active transport for low-income communities
- Infrastructure: Trail condition, cycling facilities, footpath quality
Tahua's grants management platform helps active transport organisations manage grant applications across Waka Kotahi, Sport NZ, councils, gaming trusts, and community funders, tracking cycling and walking participation, infrastructure, and health outcomes.