About
What we do
From leading teams to the Paralympic Games, to strategic leadership and advocacy for Para sport in NZ.
Our People
Find out about our Board, staff, Athletes' Council, Patron and Order of Merit recipients.
Members
PNZ Member organisations include National Sports Organisations, Regional Disability Sport and Recreation Organisations and others.
Partners
PNZ commercial partners play a significant role in supporting Para sport. Many are actively involved in community and athlete focused initiatives.
Resources
Find documents such as annual reports, terminology guidance, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Community
Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) is passionate about the work that we do in communities throughout New Zealand.
Careers
Find out about current vacancies, internships and PNZ's commitment to diversity and inclusion as an employer.
Contact Us
Find Paralympics New Zealand's address, phone number, email address, or join our media list.
Paralympics New Zealand
Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) is the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) for New Zealand. We are a charity organisation and our overall vision is, ‘Through Para sport, lives will be transformed’.
As a member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), we are part of a worldwide social change movement, which uses the power of sport to positively influence community perceptions of disabled people and to promote a more diverse and inclusive society. To do this, we support and celebrate the achievements of Para athletes at international and national competitions all year round. Every two years, we lead New Zealand teams to the Paralympic Games. We also work to advocate for sport to become more accessible for disabled people and to support the creation of more systems and programmes to enable participation in Para sport.
The support that PNZ receives through government funding, grants from trusts and foundations, donations, commercial partnerships and gifts in wills make our Para sport, community and advocacy programmes possible. We remain incredibly grateful for any support received. You can help too, by visiting Support Us or Donate Now.
Vision and Values
Vision
Through Para sport, lives will be transformed.
Values
Leadership: Strategic leadership and collaboration with members, partners and Para athletes, building a strong and sustainable Para sport pathway.
Excellence: Demonstrate excellence at all levels of the Para sport pathway, ensuring quality experiences for all.
Advocacy: Champion equity, accessibility and inclusion for all New Zealanders to be involved in sport.
To read our full Strategic Plan 2021 – 2032, click here on this link.
Our history
New Zealand’s first participation in sports events for people with disabilities was in 1962 when an Auckland paraplegic attended the British Commonwealth Paraplegic Games held in Western Australia.
In 1965, Auckland established the first disability regional association and in 1966 a team comprising of nine Aucklanders and one Dunedin competitor were selected to attend the Commonwealth Games in Jamaica.
Christchurch held the first inter-regional games in 1966. In 1968, the first National Disabled Championships were held with 29 competitors. The Otago-Southland association was formed shortly after this event, followed by another in Wellington.
Also in 1968, the New Zealand Paraplegic & Physically Disabled Federation was formed as the National Sports Organisation for people with disabilities, to enable an official team to represent New Zealand at the Paralympic Games in Israel. 15 Para athletes competed and returned with one gold, two silver and one bronze medals.
In January 2007, the New Zealand Paraplegic & Physically Disabled Federation changed its name to become Paralympics New Zealand. This was to gain greater public awareness and raise the profile of disability sport by focusing on its most prestigious event – the Paralympic Games.
