Sport Auckland

Key Changes 2026-27

Organisations are not eligible for Fast, Local or Regional Funding if they have not completed accountability/ final reporting for previously funded initiatives across Tāmaki Makaurau i.e., incomplete reporting for “South” will mean an application for “North” would be declined.
- Consider conditional approval if a report is due within two months, requiring current reporting to be completed prior to investment agreement/ funding expended.

Fast Fund will increase from $10,000 - $12,000 to accommodate rising costs

Purpose of the fund?

Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa is an activation fund that supports tamariki (5-11yrs) and rangatahi (12-18yrs), particularly those that are less active, to access quality play, active recreation and sport opportunities of their choice in their community or school and kura.

A wide range of organisations that provide physical activity opportunities for tamariki and rangatahi are encouraged to apply, particularly those supporting the following target groups that are known to be less active:

Young women and girls (5-18yrs)
Disabled tamariki and rangatahi (5-18yrs and including those in schools up to the age of 21)

We also welcome applications supporting less active participants outside of these target groups.

If you are unsure you qualify for funding you should call us.

Scott van der Colk - Tū Manawa Lead

M: 022 068 1639

E:scottv@sportauckland.co.nz

Who can apply?

We welcome applications from a wide range of groups and organisations. If you want to apply but do not have legal status, you should partner with a qualifying (legal) entity.

Examples of who can apply:

Hapū, Iwi, Marae, Māori organisations
Primary/Intermediate schools/Kura
Secondary schools/Wharekura
Tertiary Education/Whare Wānanga
Charitable Trusts
Regional or Local Councils
Incorporated Societies
For-profit businesses/commercial organisations and social enterprises

Examples of who cannot apply:

National organisation that receive Partnership Investment from Sport NZ
Government agencies and their regional branches
Early learning services
Professional or semi-professional sports teams and organisations
Individuals

How much can I ask for?

Fast Fund applications: up to a maximum of $12,000
Local Fund applications: over $12,000 and up to a maximum of $50,000

Application Reporting

Organisations with projects in progress will be unable to apply until submission of an approved final report.

What can be funded?

This is an activation fund that is intended to address barriers that tamariki and rangatahi face in accessing quality physical activity opportunities. A clear idea of what those barriers are, along with evidence that you have ensured your initiative is wanted and needed by participants, must be included in your application.

This includes costs of (among others):

project or programme delivery (for example, venue or equipment hire, transport to event)
equipment (only when it is needed as part of a project, activation, or programme)
officials and coaches, where these are required for delivery of the programme
staff that will deliver the programme, where they are not already funded from other sources

What can't be funded?

The fund does not cover:

delivery in curriculum time (with an external provider) that is not accompanied by a 'Implementation in a School/Kura setting' form
costs of retrospective programmes or events (those that have already been completed or held)
costs associated with representative teams (including uniforms, travel, accommodation, AIMS games etc), academies, professional athletes, or professional sports teams,
capital infrastructure (for example, facility development, or playgrounds)
administration and on-going costs (for example, rent, internet, or power)
wages or annual salaries of existing funded staff or staff who are not involved in the planning or delivery of the project or programme.
Funding can’t be used in a school setting to provide an FTE or equivalent that are akin to HAL Advisor/Community Activator and Sport Coordinator/PE roles.
Medals, prizes, giveaways, and spot prizes
Water Skills for Life lessons, or transport for WSFL lessons and Swimming Lessons (as part of in curriculum time delivery)
School Camps that are part of normal curriculum activity
School Sports Administrator/Coordinator roles
Bikes in Schools applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis

Our Funding Opportunities

We have two funding programmes that are open all year, or until funds are exhausted. You can apply online at any time through our Fast Fund or Local Fund.

We do fund projects that meet the needs of our priority groups who are generally inactive or missing out. If you would like more information around our criteria, we encourage you to get in touch with us.

Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa: Dates 2026-27

Fast Fund (up to $12,000)

1 July 2026 - 27 November 2026
15 January 2027 - 30 April 2027

Local Fund (between $12,000-$50,000)

1 August 2026 - 31 August 2026
1 March 2027 - 31 March 2027

Scott van der Colk - Tū Manawa Lead

M: 022 068 1639

Sport Auckland Boundaries

If your organisation is aiming to deliver outside of our boundaries, your application may need to go through oune of our partner RSTs (Sport Waitakere, Harbour Sport, CLM). If you are delivering across more than one RST, your project will become regional and need to be submitted to Aktive.

Our boundaries align to Sport Auckland's seven Local Board Areas:

Albert-Eden Local Board
Howick Local Board
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board
Orakei Local Board
Puketāpapa Local Board
Waiheke Local Board
Waitematā Local Board

Please contact us to find out whether you should apply.