Table tennis is one of New Zealand's most accessible sports — requiring minimal space and equipment, and suitable for all ages and abilities. Community clubs, schools, and recreation centres rely on grant funding to make the sport available to as many people as possible. This guide covers the key funding sources for table tennis organisations in New Zealand.
Table Tennis New Zealand (TTNZ) is the national governing body and receives Sport NZ investment.
Key programmes:
- Junior development: Pathways for young table tennis players
- Club development: Support through regional associations
- Para table tennis: Inclusive programmes for players with disability
- Coaching development: Coach accreditation
- High performance: Pathways for competitive players
Access: TTNZ investment flows through regional associations and affiliated clubs. Contact TTNZ or your regional body for guidance on available support.
Sport NZ funds Table Tennis New Zealand and regional sport trusts.
Community access:
- Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa Fund: Community-led physical activity — table tennis clubs and recreation programmes can apply
- Regional sport trusts may support table tennis as part of community sport
Gaming trusts are a highly accessible funding source for table tennis clubs. Table tennis has relatively low equipment costs, making gaming trust grants achievable even for small clubs.
Key trusts:
- New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT)
- The Lion Foundation
- Pub Charity
- Pelorus Trust
- Regional gaming trusts
What gaming trusts fund for table tennis:
- Tables (competition-grade and recreational)
- Bats, balls, and accessories
- Barriers and table covers
- Junior development programmes
- Competition entry fees and travel
- Hall hire for clubs without their own facilities
The Lottery Grants Board funds sport equipment and programmes.
For table tennis:
- Equipment grants (tables are a primary need)
- Facility improvements
- Programme development
Table tennis has particular value as an accessible sport for:
- Older adults: Low-impact, social, and cognitively engaging
- People with disability: Para table tennis is a well-established discipline
- New migrants: Low barrier to entry, internationally familiar sport
Funding for these programmes may come from:
- Age-related funders: Lotteries community grants, community trusts
- Disability funders: IHC Foundation, Attitude Trust, gaming trusts
- Multicultural community funders: Community trusts with multicultural priorities
- Sport NZ / Tū Manawa: Inclusive participation programmes
Para table tennis has a dedicated programme within TTNZ and at international level. Funding for para programmes:
- Paralympics New Zealand: Sport development for para athletes
- Lottery Grants Board: Para sport programme funding
- IHC and disability funders: For participants with intellectual disability
- Gaming trusts: Inclusive programme grants
Table tennis is an ideal school sport due to minimal space and equipment requirements. Schools may access:
- TTNZ school programmes: Delivered through regional associations
- Gaming trusts: Table and equipment grants for schools
- Ministry of Education: Sport equipment funding
Recreation centres and community halls that run table tennis as a community activity can access:
- Gaming trusts: Equipment grants
- Local council: Sport and recreation funding
- Community trusts: Social inclusion and active ageing programmes
Strong table tennis applications demonstrate:
- Accessibility: The sport's low barrier to entry is an asset — leverage it
- Diverse participation: Multi-generational, multicultural, inclusive programming
- Youth programmes: Junior participation is a funder priority
- Para and disability inclusion: Inclusive programming broadens the funding landscape
- Community reach: Beyond existing members to schools, seniors, new migrants
- Equipment specifics: Justification for tables and equipment, with participant numbers expected
Tahua's grants management platform helps sport and community organisations manage multiple funding applications, track reporting requirements, and demonstrate community impact to funders.