3 minutes
The government is spending $265 million on the sport and
recreation sector to ensure it remains viable and adapts in the wake of
Covid-19.
Grant Robertson ahead of last week's Budget release.
Photo: Dom Thomas
In announcing the funding, sports minister Grant Robertson said the
coronavirus had resulted in much of the sector's funding dry up and has
put sports, particularly at a community level, under immense strain.
"We have also seen many of our professional sports and athletes
struggle as competitions have been cancelled or suspended. Budget 2020
will provide some assistance, so they can keep competing.
He said the funding would allow sports at all levels to remain viable, get stronger and adapt.
"Sport New Zealand and High Performance Sport New Zealand will work
closely with national sport and recreation organisations, as well as the
professional teams and clubs to ensure the new funding is allocated
fairly and appropriately across the system," Robertson said.
How the money will be spent:
$83 million in short-term support to help sport and recreation
organisations at all levels get through the initial impact of Covid-19.
$104 million to help the sector rebuild in the medium term including
so national and regional sports organisations can make changes in order
to operate successfully in the post-pandemic environment. This will
include supporting new operating models and more collaboration.
$78 million for innovative approaches to delivering play, active
recreation and sport into the future. The world is changing, and this
funding will help us use new technology and research in the rebuild from
Covid-19 to modernise the sporting sector.
Robertson said across all those areas, the government would provide
funding for women's sport and groups who are currently underrepresented
in sport like people with disabilities, Māori and those from low
socioeconomic groups.
Robertson said the sport and recreation sector contributed about $5
billion a year to New Zealand's GDP and employed more than 53,000
people.
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