Media advisory

Travel grants are set to be a gamechanger for young sportspeople in South Wairarapa, who will collectively receive $10,850 of funds over the next month to get to sporting events.

The funding comes from the Sport NZ Rural Travel Fund, which encourages active recreation by removing the barriers of travel costs for young people to take part in sports.

“We’re keen to ease the financial stress of rising fuel costs and the significant cost of time it takes to get tamariki and rangatahi from rural areas to sports training and events, particularly with cost of living and other crises impacting petrol prices,” says Lina McManus, Council Advisor for Grants and Funding.

Sport NZ has allocated $38,000 over a multi-year partnership to South Wairarapa District Council until 30 June 2028, based on a per capita formula for rural territorial authorities. The Council distributes its allocation in two funding rounds each year – winter and summer.

Funds from Sport NZ are distributed by the 35 smallest (by population) territorial authorities, including South Wairarapa District Council. Total investment into the fund since its inception in 2003 is $8,549,656. This includes an additional one-off investment, provided through Covid Recovery funding. This fund has supported 10 sports clubs across the district over the past 12 months and even more teams participating in sports at Kuranui College.

Groups who applied for and received funding – May 2026

Featherston School Te Kura o Paetūmokai $2100

Greytown Rugby Football Club $2000

Kuranui College $2500

Tuhirangi Netball Club (Pirinoa) $2000

Tuhirangi Rugby Football Club (Pirinoa) $2250

Total $10,850

The next round opens in October 2026. Apply online at: Sport NZ Rural Travel Fund Application –