Sport NZ welcomes today’s announcement by the Minister for Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson of a $3.64 million investment to increase opportunities for disabled tamariki and rangatahi to be active and to build capacity and capability in the sector. 

The investment includes $3.6 million for a Disability Inclusion Fund that will see a total of 16 national and regional organisations receive funding to deliver initiatives and programmes that increase the opportunities being provided to disabled tamariki and rangatahi. 

The 16 recipients are each set to receive investment of between $30,000 and $300,000 for projects of two or three years duration.

A further $44,000 will be provided to Special Olympics New Zealand under the Minister for Sport and Recreation Discretionary Fund for the purchase of equipment to support a range of physical activity programmes run under its umbrella. 

The Disability Inclusion Fund will support the expansion of proven programmes, as well as the development of innovative new programmes. Many of the fund’s recipients are existing Sport NZ partners who are receiving specific disability funding for the first time, while some recipients will receive direct funding from Sport NZ for the first time. 

“There was incredible interest in the fund, with applications received from 68 organisations.  This outstanding response highlighted the growth in the disability sector and increased aspirations for disabled tamariki and rangatahi,” says Raelene Castle, Chief Executive, Sport NZ. 

“Through our Disability Plan, we are working with a much wider range of organisations and together we will create access to more opportunities for greater numbers of disabled tamariki and rangatahi to have quality physical activity experiences.” 

Find out more about the Disability Inclusion Fund projects.