Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa (Tū Manawa) is an activation fund that supports tamariki (5-11yrs) and rangatahi (12-18yrs), particularly those that are less active, to access quality play, active recreation, or sport opportunities of their choice in their community or school and kura. 

The meaning behind Tū Manawa means:

• Tū - ‘to stand’ and 

• Manawa – ‘breath’.

 In the context of play, active recreation and sport the name calls to all New Zealanders to live Sport NZ’s vision - 'Every Body Active'. 

The fund is managed, on Sport NZ’s behalf, by Regional Sports Trusts (RSTs) and is designed to ensure it reaches the communities that need it most.

A wide range of organisations that provide physical activity opportunities for tamariki and rangatahi are encouraged to apply, particularly those supporting the following target groups that are known to be less active:

• Young women and girls (5-18yrs) 

• Disabled tamariki and rangatahi (5-18yrs and including those in schools up to the age of 21)

We also welcome applications supporting less active participants outside of these target groups.

FAST FUND (applications up to $30,000) 

COMMUNITY ACTIVATION FUND (applications up to $50,000)

FUNDING DATES

Round 1 - Fast Fund & Community Activation: Closing Friday 16th Aug 2024 (midnight)

Round 2 – Fast Fund & Community Activation: TBC

Round 3 – Fast Fund: TBC

Please ensure any projects submitted have a start date of at least 2 months after the funding round has closed. This allows time for our team to process, and allocate funding.
Applications submitted after close off will fall into the next round.

Who can apply?                                                                                                   

What can be funded?                                                                                            

This is an activation fund that is intended to address barriers that tamariki and rangatahi face in accessing quality physical activity opportunities. A clear idea of what those barriers are, along with evidence that you have ensured your initiative is wanted and needed by participants, must be included in your application.

This includes costs of (among others):

• Project or programme delivery (for example, venue or equipment hire, transport to event),

• Equipment (only when it is needed as part of a project, activation, or programme),

• Officials and coaches, where these are required for delivery of the programme,

• Staff that will deliver the programme, where they are not already funded from other sources.

What will not be funded?                                                                                     

The fund does not cover:

• Costs of retrospective programmes or events (those that have already been completed or held)

• Costs associated with representative teams (including uniforms, travel, accommodation etc), academies, professional athletes, or professional sports teams,

• Capital infrastructure (for example, facility development, or playgrounds)

• Administration and on-going costs (for example, rent, internet, or power)

• Wages or annual salaries of existing funded staff or staff who are not involved in the planning or delivery of the project or programme.

• Medals, prizes, giveaways, and spot prizes

• Food

• Sports Uniforms

• Storage for activity equipment

Tū Manawa is unable to meet all the demand so has a specific focus on the costs of delivering an activity opportunity. Your Regional Sport Trust may be able to help identify funding avenues for other areas, or you could check Sport NZ's searchable funding opportunities here: 

Sports Grants NZ | Funding | Sport New Zealand - Ihi Aotearoa (sportnz.org.nz)

Application process                                                                                                

Stage 1: Expression of Interest (NON-COMPULSORY)

To determine whether your application for funds might be considered by your local Regional Sports Trust, we have developed this short questionnaire that will enable your RST to provide any suggestions/enhancements that could be made before you submit a full application. 

We will provide feedback on what you have submitted (if required) and an indication of further work that might need to be done before a full application is completed.

Stage 2: Full application

LINK TO APPLICATION FORM: 

The full application is required for consideration by our assessment panel and asks for more detail about your project. You are welcome to progress straight to that stage if you are confident that your activity or project meets the requirements of the fund and the expectations of the RST that is administering it.

Please note, support from our team during your application process does not immediately guarantee application approval. Applications submitted after close off will fall into the next round (all applications are assessed AFTER close off dates and can take up to 6-8 weeks from close off date).

Apply by clicking the buttons below:

Important documents to review before you apply                                                 

Please review the Community Guidelines for a Tū Manawa project before applying.

Tū Manawa Community Guidelines 2024-2028

Your application must deliver quality play, active recreation, and sport opportunities and experiences that contribute to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi in Aotearoa, New Zealand. This includes listening to the wants, needs and aspirations of tamariki and rangatahi, and ensuring the activity you are providing responds to those insights.

Supporting Quality Experiences

Your project or programme must consider the concept of quality and the holistic needs of the intended participants. To assist your thinking the resources below might help:

• Balance is Better

• Sport NZ’s Play Plan

• Te Whetū Rehua

• Three Approaches

• Quality Indicators

• Mana Taiohi Principles

The quality of the play, active recreation, or sport experience for tamariki and rangatahi is often enhanced by the involvement of whānau/family. We encourage applicants to particularly engage with them in the development of the project or programme where their support might be a critical contributor to a participant’s enjoyment of the experience, or an important vehicle to address the barriers that a young person has in accessing the opportunity (such as transport or supervision).

• Our People
• Annual Report
• Moving Waikato
• Funding
• Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa Fund
• Regional Covid Hardship Fund
• WRASP