A warm KiwiSport welcome to the New Year.  2013 sees KiwiSport in the Waikato continue into its 4th year.  The government funded initiative to help increase the number of school-aged children playing organised sport has been extended for a further 3 years through to 2015. 

Regional and national sporting organisations have submitted applications to be a part of the KiwiSport Major Fund Project.  This will see a continuation of specialised KiwiSport officers delivering sporting skill sessions and competitions across the greater Waikato region.  The codes involved in the KiwiSport Major Project in 2013 include;

Badminton
Bike
Bowls
Cricket
Football
Golf
GymSports
Hockey
Netball
Rugby
Rugby League
Volleyball

The KiwiSport officers consist of Commonwealth games gold medallists, NZ representatives and numerous provincial players.  Their skills and expertise are sure to inspire and develop all levels of ability while having fun and linking to clubs.

KiwiSport Coordinator for Sport Waikato, Kerin McDonald says, “the KiwiSport projects that will be delivered in 2013 are specifically designed to help give more kids, more opportunities to develop skills.  We anticipate an increase in player numbers, teams and competitions leading to growth of local clubs.”  Sport Waikato is dedicated to supporting this growth and will continue to help parents and volunteers be up skilled.
 

Click the link below for contact details for the KiwiSport Team

Meet the KiwiSport team

KiwiSport Waikato Regional Partnership Fund Review
 

KiwiSport Waikato Consultation
During March and April, Sport Waikato has facilitated a community consultation process to review the impact of the KiwiSport Waikato regional partnership fund during 2010-2012.  The process included reviewing of the priorities, impact and overall experience of the current KiwiSport projects.  Information was collected from clubs, schools, regional sports organisations and community groups via town forums, online surveys and face to face meetings.

Feedback received during the consultation process included:
• Positive impact of the RSO/NSO Regional Project whereby KiwiSport Officers were employed to deliver local sport to young people across the region;
• Agreement to continue supporting secondary schools to employ a sport coordinator at the same level as the previous MOE funded SportFit investment;
• Continuation of the Community Initiatives fund to build and strengthen partnerships between schools and community sports clubs;
•Ensuring a balanced portfolio of short-term and long-term projects so that the total fund is not “locked-up” indefinitely, and is able to respond to new opportunities as they emerge.

Objectives of KiwiSport
KiwiSport aims to achieve the following objectives;
•More Kids – increasing the number of school-age children participating in organised sport; during school, after school and by strengthening links with sports clubs;
•More Opportunities – increasing the availability and accessibility of sport opportunities for all school-aged children to participate in organised sport;
•Better Skills – to support children in developing skills that will enable them to participate effectively in organised sport.

KiwiSport Waikato Priorities
The following key priorities originally identified in 2009 were reconfirmed during the 2012 consultation process:
• Making sport for youth cost effective
•Increasing local opportunities for youth
•Encouraging adult involvement in youth sport
•Fostering links between schools and clubs
 

2012-2015 KiwiSport Waikato Regional Partnership Fund

Based on the results of the consultation, Sport Waikato developed a draft investment plan which was submitted to Sport New Zealand for their approval.  This was accepted on July 27th 2012 and is now being implamented by Sport Waikato.

The information below outlines the KiwiSport Regional Partnership fund in the Waikato Region over the next 3 years;

1. RSO/NSO Regional Projects

Contestable for Regional Sport and/or National Sport organisations to address the identified priorities and provide new or increased opportunities of organised sport for children aged 5-18yrs

2. Secondary School Fund

Continued support for Waikato Secondary Schools where the MOE Direct Fund calculation has affected a school’s ability to employee their Sport Coordinator, (subject to approval of a school sport plan).

3. Community Initiatives Fund

Non contestable investment to build and strengthen linkages/partnerships between schools and community sports clubs and to provide new or increased opportunities of organised sport for school-aged children.

4. Kick Start Projects

Contestable fund for small community inspired or school based initiatives that are less than $2,000 to address the identified priorities and provide new or increased opportunities of organised sport for children aged 5-18yrs.  Funding to be split throughout the 10 Districts within the Waikato Region.

For further detail on the review and investment of the 2012-2015 regional partnership fund, please contact Kerin McDonald on; work phone: 07 858-5388 or email: kerinm@sportwaikato.org.nz