Request for Applications: Sport New Zealand Rural Travel Fund

Deadline: 05-May-2027

The Sport NZ Rural Travel Fund provides financial support to rural sports clubs and school teams in New Zealand to help subsidise travel costs for young people aged 5–18 participating in local sporting competitions. The fund aims to improve access to quality sport opportunities for tamariki and rangatahi living in rural areas by helping reduce the financial barriers associated with travel to local sporting competitions and events. The Sport NZ Rural Travel Fund is designed to address the travel challenges faced by young people living in rural areas of New Zealand. Young people in rural communities may need to travel greater distances to participate in local sporting competitions and events. The fund helps eligible sports clubs and school teams meet these transport costs so that young people can continue participating in sport regardless of where they live. The programme supports Sport New Zealand’s broader commitment to equitable access, inclusion, and the wellbeing of young people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Sport NZ allocates a total of $9,500 annually to support eligible applicants within the relevant Territorial Authority region. The funding is intended to subsidise eligible travel costs associated with young people’s participation in local sporting competitions and events. The fund supports young people aged 5 to 18 years who participate in local sporting activities.

It covers:

The fund aims to help these young people access quality sport opportunities and experiences even when living in rural areas creates additional travel challenges. The Rural Travel Fund places particular emphasis on supporting girls and young women aged 5–18 to participate in sport and active recreation. This focus reflects Sport New Zealand’s commitment to increasing equitable participation and ensuring that young people have opportunities to engage in sport. The fund also places an emphasis on supporting disabled tamariki and rangatahi. This helps promote inclusive participation in sport and active recreation and supports the wider goal of ensuring that young people can access quality sporting opportunities regardless of their circumstances or location. Rural communities can face unique transport challenges when young people need to travel to sporting competitions. Travel costs can create an additional barrier to participation, particularly for clubs and teams that regularly attend local competitions. By subsidising eligible travel costs, the Rural Travel Fund aims to help rural young people remain involved in sport and benefit from regular participation.

Eligible applicants include:

Applicants must have members aged between 5 and 18 years who require financial assistance with transport costs to participate in local sporting competitions and events. Funding is available for teams participating in regular local sports competitions outside of school time. The fund is intended to support travel associated with local sporting participation rather than school-based competitions held during school hours.

The fund does not support:

Therefore, applicants should ensure that the proposed travel relates to eligible local sporting competitions taking place outside school hours. Rural sports clubs can use the fund to help subsidise transport costs for eligible young participants. Support is particularly relevant where travel requirements create financial barriers for children and young people wishing to participate in regular local competitions. Rural school teams can also benefit from the fund when they meet the eligibility requirements. The supported travel must relate to eligible local sporting competitions and events and take place outside school hours. The programme supports participants aged 5–18 years.

The age groups are:

Applicants should ensure that the participants covered by the proposed travel support fall within the required age range. Sport NZ allocates $9,500 annually within the Territorial Authority region. This regional allocation is intended to provide financial support to eligible rural sports clubs and school teams that require assistance with travel costs for young people’s local sporting participation. A central purpose of the Rural Travel Fund is to help create more equitable access to sport. Young people living in rural communities should have opportunities to participate in quality sporting activities even when geographical distance creates additional transport costs. The fund helps address this barrier by contributing towards eligible travel expenses. The programme’s focus extends beyond participation alone. By supporting girls, young women, and disabled tamariki and rangatahi, the fund contributes to a more inclusive approach to sport and active recreation. The programme reflects Sport New Zealand’s commitment to the wellbeing and participation of young people across Aotearoa New Zealand. The Sport NZ Rural Travel Fund provides financial support to rural sports clubs and school teams to help subsidise travel costs for young people aged 5–18 participating in local sporting competitions and events. Sport NZ allocates a total of $9,500 annually within the Territorial Authority region. Rural sports clubs and rural school teams can apply if they have members aged 5–18 who require financial assistance with transport costs for eligible sporting competitions and events. The fund supports young people aged 5–18 years. For the purposes of the programme, tamariki refers to children aged 5–11 years. Rangatahi refers to young people aged 12–18 years. Yes. The fund places particular emphasis on supporting girls and young women aged 5–18 to participate in sport and active recreation. Yes. The fund places particular emphasis on supporting disabled tamariki and rangatahi. Interschool competitions held during school hours are excluded from funding. No. Intra-school competitions held during school hours are excluded. Yes. Rural sports clubs are eligible applicants where they meet the programme r