Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa

Funding activities for children and young people

Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa provides funding for the delivery of play, active recreation and sport activities for children and young people (5-18yrs). Activities can be new or existing, and your application needs to show how you’re meeting the needs and wants of your participants.

Tū Manawa is aimed at addressing the barriers children and young people face in accessing an opportunity, so it has a particular focus on groups who are less active, including girls and young women, and disabled people.

Read about the impact of three years of Tū Manawa in our 2024 insights report.

Find out more below and go to your Regional Sports Trust's website to apply.

What can be funded?

This is an activation fund that is intended to address the barriers that tamariki and rangatahi face in accessing quality physical activity opportunities. Applications must clearly show what those barriers are and evidence that your initiative is wanted and needed by participants, and include the costs of the:

project or programme delivery (for example, venue or equipment hire, participant transport to your activity)
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.

Who can apply?

We welcome applications from the following organisation types. (Please note, funded entities must have legal status):

hapū, iwi, marae, Māori organisations
incorporated clubs or societies
Charitable Trusts
regional or local councils
for-profit businesses/commercial organisations and social enterprises
education settings:
- Primary/Intermediate schools/Kura
- Secondary schools/Wharekura
- Tertiary Education/Whare Wānanga.

Where to apply

Sport NZ is partnering with the country’s network of 14 Regional Sports Trusts to manage and distribute Tū Manawa.

Find out more on where to apply

Supporting materials

Guidance and templates

School applications

Kaupapa Māori applications

Learn more

Community stories

Improving physical and mental wellbeing in Maraenui

Leaders within Maraenui, Napier have developed two new kaupapa to support their tamariki, rangatahi and whānau to be active. One is the M.E.K.E Initiative that provides free community exercise classes from a portable shipping container. The other is Shamrock Boxing, run out of a garage.

Palmerston North libraries loan more than books

Four Palmerston North libraries have introduced Play Libraries to give tamariki and rangatahi access to play equipment. Thanks to Tū Mānawa funding through Sport Manawatu, and support from Palmerston North City Council, the initiative to get kids more physically active through play is proving a huge success.

Neuro-divergent students excel in outdoors

With help from Tū Manawa funding through Nuku Ora, about 20 students from Wellington East Girls’ College’s supported learning class Te Aka have been exploring the great outdoors on day walks and overnight tramps as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award challenges.

Manawatū former refugee community have a go and get active

Involvement in new physical activity experiences and opportunities has given a group of Manawatū former refugees and migrants new-found confidence, community connections and a sense of belonging, with the support of THINK Hauora and Tu Mānawa.

Food and play is a recipe for success in Southland

Thanks to Tū Manawa funding, Invercargill food rescue agency KiwiHarvest is including ‘play packs’ in the food parcels it delivers to local whānau. This pilot aims to bring about positive change through improving whānau connection, activity and confidence through play.

Sports club opens doors for rural New Plymouth communities

A new initiative that aims to ensure rural children and their families have access to sporting and social opportunities in New Plymouth’s rural coastline communities is gaining momentum fast.

Gym classes get kids in rural Taranaki active 

With new opportunities to be active, learn new skills and have fun, now, more than 60 children from four rural schools between Omata to Okato flock to Tataraimaka Gymnastics for their sessions up to three times a week. Tū Manawa funding has helped replace old gear with new gym mats, trampolines, balls, beams and hanging ropes. 

Fun for the whole whānau during footie season

New Plymouth Rangers AFC successfully applied for Tū Manawa funding through Sport Taranaki for a play project to keep the children of parents playing at weekends engaged, and to run play sessions during the football season.

Enabling wellbeing for disabled young people

A group of young people in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland have seen huge gains from a new programme organised with the help of Tū Manawa funding. Functional Adaptive Movement™ Ltd (FAM™) has been running classes for a group of Wairau Special School students based at Glenfield College.

Tamariki find confidence and pride on jiu jitsu mats

Thanks to Tū Manawa, more students at Te Kura o Tāneatua in the Eastern Bay of Plenty are getting active and developing their leadership skills thanks to a popular Brazilian jiu jitsu programme.

Rotorua High School says “Let’s Go Girls”!

Linked to #itsmymove campaign, Let’s Go Girls at Rotorua Girls’ High School is living up to its name with hundreds of girls giving physical activity a go.

Life changing rafting adventure for disabled students

Backed by Tū Manawa funding through Sport Tasman, a white-water rafting trip has instilled a passion for the outdoors and taught a group of West Coast young people that the sky is the limit.

Breaking down barriers open doors for tamariki participation

Young people and their whānau in East Christchurch are reaping big benefits from new sport and wellbeing initiatives provided by two local organisations. Working alongside Sport Canterbury, Tamai Kāhui Ako and Tamai Sports both received Tū Manawa funding to give local tamariki and rangatahi access to taking part in sport opportunities.

Canterbury kids get active with take-home equipment

Students from St James Primary, a Healthy Active Learning School, have been taking play and sport equipment home and getting active after school with whānau and friends, as part of Sport Canterbury’s SportStart Home initiative.

Sports-based holiday camp a hit with migrant families

The CNSST Foundation (formerly known as Chinese New Settlers Services Trust), which provides comprehensive services and support to new Asian migrants, ran the sports camp with help from Tū Manawa funding through Sport Auckland.

Boost Programme ignites girls’ interest in new activities

Designed to get more girls physically active, this free school holiday programme for year 7 and 8 girls includes dance, CrossFit, boxing, spin classes, Zumba, bike riding and wheelchair rugby.

Boost Programme ignites girls’ interest in new activities

Southland Fijian community celebrates and gets active

Tū Manawa funding and support from Active Southland has helped mark a special day on the calendar for the Southland Fijian community.

Young people with Down Syndrome make a splash

New Plymouth’s Fulton Swim School offers lessons to young people with Down Syndrome thanks to Tū Manawa funding.

StarJam a game-changer for disabled young people

A new programme introduced to the Hawke’s Bay is changing the lives of a group of disabled young people and their families.

Canterbury Rams round up youth

Tū Manawa funding helps basketball role models connect with tamariki and rangatahi.

Surf therapy changes mindsets

Surf therapy in Northland is making a positive difference in the lives of young people by nurturing overall wellbeing and helping connect students with nature.

Yoga transforms students’ lives

Yoga classes are transforming the lives of young people at one school in the Taranaki region.

Improving wellbeing for girls giving rugby league a go

Manurewa Marlins Rugby Club has had tremendous success with a new programme – Mareikura – that encourages women and girls to give rugby league a go.

Regional Sports Trusts Tū Manawa case studies

Sport Canterbury

Sport Canterbury case studies

Sport Hawke's Bay

Sport Hawke's Bay case studies

If you require an accessible version of any content on the site please contact us and we will be happy to assist.

Get Active

Find a sport or recreation activity