National sports organisations have been given some certainty around funding for the next year, with an assurance their government funding through Sport NZ will continue.
Pole vaulter Eliza McCartney Photo: Photosport
Sport New Zealand had been due to announce a new four year investment plan but that has now been deferred, with current levels of investment guaranteed to remain in place till the end of June next year.
Sports minister Grant Robertson said COVID-19 was having a significant impact on sport in New Zealand, from international to grass roots level, leading to the cancellation of competitions and the closure of community facilities.
Robertson said national sports organisations had lost significant revenue from broadcast rights, sponsorship and sports betting so rolling over current funding arrangements provided certainty.
Under the last funding round, netball was one of the big winners with a nearly $400,000 annual increase in funding, from $1.5 million to $1.88 million.
In addition, sports will not be obliged to continue Sport NZ-led initiatives, so they can focus on remaining operational.
That means sports can hold off implementing changes to junior sport which rugby, football, hockey, netball and cricket all signed up to in line with making sport less competitive and more inclusive.
In addition to this financial support, Robertson said all sport and recreation businesses can apply for the Covid-19 wage subsidy.
"The Government is also working on a sports recovery package for when we get through the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This package will look to include some support for community organisations and our high performance and elite athletes.
"Sport, recreation and play are vital for the health and well being of our communities and we are committed to doing everything we can to support the sector, both at a grass-roots and elite level, into the future."
High Performance Sport NZ also confirmed core funding for 2020-2021 to Olympic and Paralympic sports so they can transition key high performance functions into the rescheduled Tokyo Games next year, as well as the new Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic cycle.