In New Zealand, a range of funding opportunities exist to support your involvement in Para sport.

Funding opportunities are offered by a variety of organisations with specific mandates and interests. As such, opportunities for funding will differ depending upon your level of representation, where you live, and your impairment type.

In the majority of cases, it is the responsibility of Para athletes to source the most up to date and correct information and application forms for funding opportunities. It is also the responsibility of individual Para athletes to complete and submit their own applications.

This section provides several examples of funding opportunities we are currently aware of. Please use this page as a guide to potential funding opportunities, and not a definitive list, as more opportunities may be available from other sources. If you are aware of additional funding sources not listed on this website, please contact us.

You may also wish to browse the Sport New Zealand Funding search portal for a wider range of potential sport and recreation funding sources. There is a list of disability grants and scholarships on the First Port website.

PNZ Cyril Smith Legacy Fund

If you live in or represent the Canterbury region, or are an organisation that supports Para athletes in the region, the PNZ Cyril Smith Legacy Fund may be a great funding opportunity for you.

Applicants should be appear that the PNZ Cyril Smith Legacy Fund Committee has $30,000 to distribute annually. It is recommended where possible and relevant that applicants include a letter of support from their NSO / regional body.

Find out more about the PNZ Cyril Smith Legacy Fund in this news article.

We have upgraded the application process to make it faster, more convenient, and accessible. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact [email protected].

Applications are now being accepted. The next closing date is 28 June 2024.

PNZ Cyril Smith Legacy Fund Information Sheet – readable version

Other funds

High Performance Para athletes may also be eligible for Tailored Athlete Pathway Support (TAPS), which support the performance and wellbeing of athletes in the New Zealand high performance sport environment. It replaces the previous system of Carded Athletes and Performance Enhancement Grants (PEGs) for athletes.

Base Training Grants or Development Grants 

A Base Training Grant or Development Grant for eligible pathway athletes is not based on performance and aims to provide a level of financial security and support athlete wellbeing. These are intended as stable and dependable multi-year grants to give athletes a platform to grow their performance across the cycle, and ideally achieve performance levels eligible for Excellence Grants. Read more.

Excellence Grants

Excellence Grants (EGs) are grants that recognise an individual’s or team’s performance excellence and are designed to support further performance excellence from them. Excellence Grants are offered to a Probable or Convert TAPS athlete over and above their Base Training Grant if they achieve an agreed performance standard at their agreed Excellence Grant qualifying event. Read more.

Medical Insurance Premiums

TAPS eligible athletes may also be eligible for fully funded medical insurance. Read more.

Prime Minister’s Scholarships

Athletes eligible for TAPS have the opportunity to apply for a Prime Minister’s Athlete Scholarship to support educational or professional opportunities that enable them to develop holistically outside sport, in ways that may contribute to their post-athletic career. Read more.