Opening doors to Participation, Belonging, & Opportunity.
Since 2022, the NZSC has provided funding to 156 schools, contributing over $1 million annually to the students who need it most.
Sponsors Helping Break Barriers to Sport Participation
Across New Zealand, dedicated sponsors are breaking down financial barriers so more secondary school students can participate in sport. Their support empowers rangatahi, strengthens school communities, and helps make sport accessible to all.
Bayleys supports schools nationwide through their Sponsor a School programme, where local agents build long-term relationships with school communities. Their contributions help students who might otherwise miss out, providing support for sports participation, uniforms, gym equipment, and other essential resources.
Caltex retailers have provided schools with $1,000 worth of Starcash cards each year, helping ease the burden of travel expenses for students attending sports events around the country. What started as a simple initiative has grown into lasting partnerships between retailers and schools, extending well beyond the original programme.
Nateva (formerly New Zealand Carbon Farming) focuses on rural secondary schools, offering funding that helps cover registration fees, travel costs, uniforms, and equipment. Their support ensures students in smaller communities have the same opportunities to participate in sport as those in larger centres.
Apollo Projects, passionate advocates for youth sport, have sponsored schools nationwide over the past four years. Their funding covers a wide range of sport-related expenses, helping students stay engaged, active, and connected through sport.
Leading the way in the revitalisation of Te Reo me ngā tikanga Māori
The partnership between NZ Sport Collective and Whakaata Māori is delivering positive outcomes for rangatahi sport while helping increase the visibility and everyday use of te reo me ngā tikanga Māori throughout Aotearoa. Through free-to-air coverage, more New Zealanders are connecting with rangatahi sport through whānau, community and a shared love of the game. Funding from Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori is helping strengthen these outcomes by enabling the development of te reo Māori-speaking commentators and increasing the presence of te reo Māori across our broadcasts. Sporting partners also have improved access to tikanga guidance and cultural expertise, helping ensure te ao Māori is authentically woven throughout our coverage. By integrating te reo Māori and tikanga Māori into broadcasts and grassroots sporting events across Aotearoa, this kaupapa is helping ensure communities of all sizes, including those in more remote areas, can experience and celebrate these moments together while increasing the visibility, accessibility and everyday use of te reo Māori.
30% Te Reo
In 2025, all broadcasts upheld a 30% Te Reo standard, supporting reo growth among wider audiences.
2800 + Hours
A full year of streamed content across Whakaata Māori, giving more whānau the chance to watch, support, and celebrate rangatahi sport.
1.9M+ Views
In 2025, more than 85 grassroots sporting events were streamed, generating 1.5 million unique views across Whakaata Māori platforms.
Putting Students at the Heart of School Sport.
The NZSC's School Sport Charter sets a new global standard - protecting student wellbeing while guiding sponsorship, broadcast, and social media practices across secondary school sport.
"This partnership is helping us to advance equity by ensuring that all students, regardless of their circumstances, have access to the many benefits that come from being involved in sport-teamwork, discipline, wellbeing, and a strong sense of belonging."
Richard Crawford
Principal, Fairfield College
"Your support last year enabled students to have the correct gear such as rugby boots, have their subs paid, and contributed to their travel to tournaments outside Marlborough. We see our students' confidence and leadership develop through their engagement in sport..."
Mary-Jeanne Lynch
Principal, Marlborough Girls' College
"Our students come from some of the most deprived backgrounds in the country and this sometimes prevents them from accessing opportunities that are available to their peers. This sponsorship will help support these students to be able to compete on a level playing field"
Simon Craggs
Principal, Papakura High School
"We have never had an increase of 9% in participation in one year. I have worked here for 16 years, and this has not happened before in my time."
Theresa Johnson
Sports Coordinator, Kaikorai Valley College
"Due to the funding, our sports participation increased across all sports by 5% in 2024. It has been a lifeline for Girls Football at Fairfield College, with approximately 90% of the girls' team utilising the Apollo funding"
Tony Philip
Sports Coordinator, Fairfield College
"The value of this grant reaches well beyond the financial contribution. It provides our students access to experiences and opportunities that shape not only their sporting journeys but also their self-confidence and life aspirations".
Virginia Crawford
Principal, Fraser High School
...these are often the students who benefit the most from the sense of community that sport can provide, and the impact is much greater for the student than sport alone."
Jacqui Brown
Principal, New Plymouth Girls' High School
"Providing funding to support our families who struggle the most financially is the most valuable support any organisation could provide. Often boys are reluctant to involve themselves in school sport because of the costs they know this will create for their families"
Simon Murphy
Director of Sport, Gisborne Boys' High School
"If we weren't able to help some students, they simply would not go on school trips or participate in sport. If too many students cannot go on trips, it means our teams cannot go. So, the impact of your support is really significant".
Dean Hull
Sports Director, Hastings Boys' High School
"This sponsorship has helped all our students participate in regional competitions. All our students at our Kura have barriers of isolation when it comes to external sporting opportunities. If they want to compete at a higher level, they must travel & this comes with enormous costs for our students and their whanau".
Anita Williams
Personal Assistant, Opononi Area School
"Sometimes school sport is what motivates our rangatahi to attend school and stay in school. It helps them build relationships with peers and contributes to their overall hauora"
Worth Rhine
Funding and Revenue Coordinator, Marlborough Girls' College
"Many students are not engaging in school sports for financial reasons. This is a real shame, as the benefits of participating in sports for young people are well-documented... the funding provided last year contributed to the significant increase in our students' sports participation"
Jatin Bali
Principal, Kaikorai Valley College
Explore Opportunities
Whether you’re looking for information, support, or sponsorship opportunities, our team is here to help.
