The Minister of Sport, Grant Robertson, has announced $80 million worth of sport recovery packages, with $54 million of that over the 2020/2021 financial year.
The immediate news for Basketball is the New Zealand National Basketball League (NBL) will benefit with a $500,000 allocation to be split: $300,000 for the men’s league and $200,000 for the women’s league.
The men’s league is already in its third week and being played at The Trust’s Arena in Auckland. Basketball New Zealand Chief Executive, Iain Potter, says this package is a “huge relief” as the NBL had already underwritten this event to the cost of about $1 million.
“The $300k assistance is a huge relief as it largely covers the forecast deficit. The NBL was determined to see the League played in 2020 in order to meet obligations to broadcasters and sponsors, see the players get to play and earn something, and to ensure that basketball and the NBL are seen and enjoyed by their many supporters. Thanks to this announcement, after the NBL Grand Final is played on 1 August we can confidently begin planning for another great event in 2021.
“The NBL is now excitedly organising the women’s league after it was derailed by COVID-19 and the teams postponed the season until another opportunity was presented. We already have great interest form many teams. The NBL team is working through those details and plan to announce the 2020 competition details later this month.
“The other targeted areas in the package present more great opportunities to see basketball continue its rise within what has been a tough year for sport and all Kiwis,” says Potter.
MEDIA RELEASE from Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon Grant Robertson
07 July 2020
$80 million for sport recovery at all levels
Grant Robertson has today announced the first major release of funding from the $265 million Sport Recovery Package announced at Budget 2020.
“Today we’re setting out how $80 million will be invested, with $54 million of that over the 2020/2021 financial year for organisations from community level through to elite level.
“All levels of the sector have been affected by COVID-19 and this funding is focused on making sure the sector continues to thrive, while also ensuring New Zealanders can continue to maintain their wellbeing through physical activity.
This first release of funding from the Sport Recovery Package includes:
• A $68 million fund (Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa) to support community sport. This builds on the KiwiSport Regional Partnership fund to provide quality opportunities for young people who are missing out, particularly in higher deprivation areas. ($34 million is from the Sport Recovery Package with the remaining $34 million from existing Sport NZ baselines).
• A $25.4 million fund for Sport NZ’s national partners to strengthen and adapt. This funding will also support specific sports with the cost of running premier national leagues affected by COVID-19 (including basketball).
• $10 million for a second Community Resilience Fund to provide further immediate support to a broader range of eligible local and regional organisations.
• An initial $7.3 million package to improve facilities for New Zealand’s upcoming hosting of world cups.
The funds will open for application by the end of August – details on Sport NZ’s website.
“Sport NZ has also earmarked $3 million for individuals and families in financial hardship who are unable to take part in sport and recreation opportunities. Details on how this funding will be distributed will be released in coming weeks.
“All the funding announced today, and the remainder of the package will continue to place a specific emphasis on groups who are traditionally less active or are missing out, including women and girls, Māori, disabled people and our high deprivation communities.”
“Having prioritised initiatives that focus on the areas in most need of support, Sport NZ will continue to engage with the sector to decide how the remaining $180 million is best spent over the next four years to help sport recover, strengthen and adapt,” Grant Robertson said.
