Over 45 applications were assessed against criteria by a Sport NZ judging panel, with eight being selected to attend the two-day design challenge from 20 - 21 July.

The selected teams will have the opportunity to workshop their ideas alongside innovation experts at a design challenge weekend and develop them into projects which can then be submitted for application to receive one-off funding of up to $25,000 per project.

The project teams are:

G.P.S (Girls Prospering in Sports)

Shirkhan Tigers Sports A collaborative leadership programme where rangatahi co-design a road map to help young women take part in selected physical activities.

Girls on the move

Mission Possible Ltd   An opportunity for girls to give skateboarding a go, with an introduction to board sports through short skate programmes.

Girl Code

Rototuna Indoor Recreation Centre Trust A collaborative project between schools and recreation facility to give young women more opportunities to get moving during lunchtime, after school and on their weekends.

Inclusive ability netball

Auckland Netball Centre A project which looks to transcend physical ability to bring a range of mixed ability young women together to play a modified form of netball.

Journeys

A team supported by host organisation Central Otago REAP Empowering girls through adventure in the outdoors, this project looks to bring young women together with strong female role models for outdoor pursuits in their local environment.

Seki Netball - Pacifica

Girls in Netball Hawke's Bay Netball An after-school netball programme targeting Pacific Island students, with social activities to encourage interaction and new versions of the game to encourage a friendly and non-challenging atmosphere.

Shift - Hauora

The Shift Foundation A project idea which will connect young women with nature, outdoor recreation and hauora using Te Ao Maori practices and principles.

Te Tai-o-Aorere Wahine

A team supported by host organisation Whenua Iti Outdoors An initiative designed by young women for young women, this project aims to increase participation through fortnightly outdoor activity sessions held in partnership with the Our Village initiative and Whenua Iti Outdoors.

This new funding initiative was launched by Sport NZ in April this year, where teams or organisations had the opportunity to submit their new, bright and creative ideas to get young women aged 12 to 18 active.  

Sport NZ is investing a total of $3 million over three years to support projects designed to get more young women physically active and develop leadership opportunities through play, active recreation and sport.

The new investment delivers to the leadership and participation outcomes of the Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation Strategy and is split across two new funds, Young Women's Activation Fund and Innovations for Young Women.

Further information can be found on the Sport NZ website.