Kabaddi is a contact team sport from South Asia — a raider enters the opposing half, tags defenders, and must return while chanting "kabaddi." Kabaddi NZ governs the sport. New Zealand's growing Indian and South Asian communities have brought kabaddi to Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch. This guide covers the key funding sources for kabaddi clubs in New Zealand.
Kabaddi NZ is the national governing body:
- National competition events
- State and regional associations
- International connections
- Junior development
Contact Kabaddi NZ for Sport NZ investment access.
Sport NZ funds kabaddi through Kabaddi NZ:
- Growing sport investment
- Multicultural community participation
RSTs fund community kabaddi.
RSTs fund kabaddi clubs:
- Equipment grants for mats and court equipment
- Multicultural community sport development
- Women's participation
Key RSTs:
- Aktive Auckland: Auckland's large South Asian community — largest kabaddi market in NZ
- Sport Waikato: Hamilton's Indian community kabaddi
- Sport Wellington: Wellington kabaddi clubs
Gaming trusts fund kabaddi clubs:
- Four Winds Foundation: Community sport organisations including multicultural
- Grassroots Trust: Community sport and recreation
- Pub Charity: Equipment and community grants
- Lion Foundation: Community sport
Gaming trust applications for kabaddi:
- Wrestling mat for indoor play — $2,000–$8,000
- Club uniforms
- Court equipment and markings
- Junior programme development
New Zealand's multicultural funders:
- Ministry for Ethnic Communities: Ethnic community sport and cultural development
- Sport NZ equity: Sport for underserved communities
- RSTs multicultural: Community sport for ethnic communities
- Local councils: Multicultural sport and recreation grants
Kabaddi's strong cultural connection to South Asian communities is a significant strength for these funders.
Sport NZ equity programmes:
- Participation for underserved communities
- Kabaddi as a culturally meaningful sport for South Asian immigrants and their children
Equipment needs:
- Playing surface: Wrestling or tatami mat for indoor play — $2,000–$8,000
- Outdoor court: Marked soft ground for traditional outdoor play
- Uniforms: Team jerseys and shorts
- Court markings: Line tape or paint
Equipment costs are relatively low for kabaddi — the mat is the primary investment.
Junior development:
- Second-generation South Asian youth: Cultural connection through sport
- School programmes: Kabaddi in multicultural school contexts
- Junior competition: Age-grade events
Women's kabaddi:
- Women's categories: Full women's competition
- Cultural community: South Asian women's sport development
- Sport NZ women in sport: Female participation investment
Ministry for Ethnic Communities:
- Grants for ethnic community cultural and sport activities
- Kabaddi as cultural expression and community building
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Participant numbers: Members by age, gender, and community background
- South Asian community: Authentic community leadership and membership
- Equipment: Mat and court — justified per club size
- Junior development: Youth players connecting to cultural heritage
- Women's participation: Female players and women's programmes
- Cultural outcomes: Cultural identity and community belonging through kabaddi
- Organisation governance: Affiliation to Kabaddi NZ
Tahua's grants management platform helps kabaddi clubs manage grant applications across Sport NZ, RSTs, multicultural funders, gaming trusts, and community funders, tracking participation, cultural, and youth outcomes.