Schools to benefit from $2.3 million Kiwisport funding

Auckland schools and sports clubs are set to benefit from a $2.3 million injection of Kiwisport funding. Sport Auckland will be distributing this via contestable funding rounds over the next three years. The objectives are simple: More Kids, More Opportunities and Better Skills. 

First clubs and schools have just received their funding and already underway are projects, which will provide in excess of 150,000 opportunities for Auckland’s children to participate in sports.

Glen Innes Primary School is a recipient of the funding. Principal, Jonathan Hendricks, is thrilled. “It’s amazing what something like this can do when used collaboratively. We have already had AFLNZ (Australian Football League New Zealand) in for a four-week block and the children are delighted.”

Aside from the equipment, it is expertise the schools gain. “We have teachers who are good at sport, but having people at a professional level come in and help the kids with ball skills is something else.”

The children have responded well to being taught by professional sports people.  “The fact that they increase fitness and self-esteem, battle health issues and have a focus they can carry through to their teens is so positive for the kids and the community,” Mr Hendricks says.

The partners providing the equipment and training are equally enthusiastic. Mark Lewis from Tennis Auckland is thrilled to have the financial backing to be able to roll out the ‘Grasshoppers’ program into schools.

“The funding and partnerships with Kiwisport and Sport Auckland have meant that we can get mini-tennis into certain schools on a permanent basis, complete with a full set of equipment, coaches and online resources for teachers. That means more kids can have a go at tennis and the links with the clubs mean they can take it to the next level.”

Other groups included are: Cricket Auckland, Tennis Auckland, AFL NZ, Baseball NZ, Tristar Gymnastics Club, Auckland Orienteering, Auckland Netball and Watersafe Auckland.

In Primary and Intermediate schools the funding is being targeted at two low-decile school clusters in Tamaki and Avondale/Blockhouse Bay and will be supported by two community sport coordinators employed via a partnership between the schools and Sport Auckland. 

In secondary schools, Sport Auckland is partnering directly with a range of schools to provide Kiwisport opportunities to their students.  The schools include Otahuhu College, McAuley High School, Tamaki College, St Pauls College, Waiheke High School, Mt Roskill Grammar School, Marist College, Glendowie College, Auckland Girls Grammar, ACG Parnell, ACG Senior College and Baradene College.

KiwiSport is a Government funding initiative to support sport for school-aged children. It was launched by the Prime Minister in August 2009 and provides funding for all NZ schools via the MoE and community projects (via SPARC to regional sports trusts).