High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) will invest $162.8 million directly into 36 National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) over the next four years through to the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
$40.7 million per annum will go directly to NSOs for their campaigns, high performance programmes and performance pathways.
In addition, HPSNZ will invest $22 million per annum in Tailored Athlete Pathway Support (TAPS), a programme of investment to sports which supports the wellbeing and performance of eligible athletes in the high performance system.
This TAPS investment is made up of $11.9 million per year which goes to athletes for financial support, and includes training and excellence grants, and health insurance. From 2025 eligible athletes will receive $50,000 per annum as an Elite Training Grant, an increase of $17,500, while the Potential Training Grant will increase by $14,000 to $25,000 per annum.
The remaining $10.1 million will be available for performance support which allows athletes to access health and wellbeing focussed performance medicine, nutrition, physiotherapy, performance science and performance life.
An additional $800,000 per annum is available in a standalone fund for wellbeing initiatives.
HPSNZ Director of High Performance, Steve Tew, highlighted the importance of balancing wellbeing and performance when making investment decisions.
“We believe wellbeing and performance are interwoven and we need to ensure the environments of the sporting organisations we are investing into are appropriately balanced.
“High performance sport is challenging, and athletes take themselves out of their comfort zones on a regular basis – but it is vital that they are physically, emotionally and psychologically safe while they do it.
“This investment package is designed to maintain the targeted approach that has helped deliver ongoing international success for New Zealand athletes, while continuing to increase wellbeing support within the high performance system,” says Steve Tew.
Rowing, Yachting, Athletics and Para Athletics, Cycling and Para Cycling, and Canoe Racing and Para Canoe are the Podium sports which will receive increased investment, while Canoe Slalom, Para Waka Ama, Speed Climbing, Tennis, Para Table Tennis, and Gymnastics are among the Aspirational sports which will receive increases.
A number of sports will see their investment remain consistent with the Paris cycle, including Rugby’s Gold Medal winning Black Ferns Sevens. However, the current tight fiscal environment meant HPSNZ also had to make some difficult decisions.
Based on careful assessment and moderation against the criteria, some sports will receive a decrease in investment. These sports include Equestrian, Swimming, Triathlon, Hockey, Basketball and Rugby’s All Blacks Sevens.
There are also a number of sports who will not receive investment at this time – these include Diving, Surfing, Golf, Badminton, E-Sports, and Football.
“We understand that some sports will be disappointed with these decisions, and they were difficult decisions because we had quality presentations from all of the NSOs,” says Steve Tew.
“It is not a reflection of their work and commitment to their sport. Ultimately, we have a finite amount of money to work with, and we have prioritised those sports with the track record and the highest potential to achieve the desired outcomes at pinnacle events.
“This was a robust process with a focus on winning medals at the LA 2028 Olympics and Paralympics and other pinnacle events during the cycle. By adopting a four year investment cycle, HPSNZ has aimed to provide certainty to sports and their athletes as they work towards their pinnacle events.”
HPSNZ worked closely with NSOs during the investment process.
“We appreciate the amount of work that sports have put into their planning, particularly for those sports who run on a part-time or volunteer basis, and we’d like to thank everyone involved for the thought and consideration they put into their submissions,” says Steve Tew.