Funding applications are open for an initiative which targets young New Zealanders most at risk of missing out on sport and recreation.
Drug Free Sport New Zealand is looking at junior rugby Photo: 123RF
Sport New Zealand last month confirmed $68 million over four years for Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa, which will fund community-based programmes and projects.
The initiative improves on Sport NZ's existing Kiwisport Regional Partnership Fund, with half the money coming from the the government's $265 million Sport Recovery Package announced in May.
While Kiwisport only focused on organised sport, Tū Manawa will also fund play and active recreation for kids aged five to 18.
Funding applications were opened on Monday and Sport NZ chief executive Peter Miskimmin said they wanted Tū Manawa to make a difference for those missing out.
"That means ensuring this funding is supporting programmes and projects operating in local communities, based on the needs of those communities.
"In the first year we have placed special emphasis on those whose physical activity levels have been impacted most by Covid-19, which we know from our research are girls and young women, disabled people, those in higher deprivation communities and a slightly higher age bracket of young women aged 19 to 24."
To ensure it reached these groups, Sport NZ was partnering with the country's 14 Regional Sports Trusts to manage and distribute the money, and had allocated funding to them based on both population and deprivation modelling.
The priority groups and funding modelling would be reviewed before 30 June, 2021, to help inform the second year of investment.
Tū Manawa was available for both new and existing programmes and projects, and funding would be provided for up to 12 months.