FAQ
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is KiwiSport?
KiwiSport is a $20 million per annum funding initiative by the government into supporting sport for school aged children. Primary, intermediate and secondary schools will receive $12 million per annum in direct funding while approximately $8 million per annum will be invested in communities via Regional Sports Trusts (RSTs).
The KiwiSport initiative is recognition that schools are a unique gateway for children wanting to get involved in a sports team or club.
KiwiSport aims to increase the number of school-aged children participating in organised sport - during school, after school and during holidays.
Why is the Government launching Kiwisport?
Kiwisport answers the call from the sector - schools, clubs, regional sports trusts - for greater support and investment in sport for children.
As outlined in pre-election commitments, direct funding means schools will have the flexibility and the freedom to apply the money to address their specific needs to help ensure more children play sport.
KiwiSport aims to ensure all kiwi kids get the opportunity to play sport meaning they get the benefits of physical fitness, being part of a team, developing leadership skills, and having fun.
How much money will KiwiSport make available for sport for school-aged children?
A total of $82 million over the next four years (and $20.485 million per year in out years). This will consist of:
- $24 million for a Primary School Direct Fund (year 1-8 students);
- $21 million for a Secondary School Direct Fund (year 9-13 students);
- $37 million for a Regional Partnership Fund (to be administered by Regional Sports Trusts (RSTs))
The Primary School Direct Fund equates to approximately $12 per student and the Secondary School Direct Fund equates to $21 per student based on current roll levels,
The Regional Partnership Fund will be calculated on a per capita basis based on the number of school-aged children within the boundaries of a Regional Sports Trust.
When does the funding take effect?
The Ministry of Education will directly fund primary and secondary schools through operating grants starting in the 2009/10 financial year.
RSTs will be contracted by SPARC to administer funding through the Regional Partnership Fund, starting in the 2009/10 financial year. It is likely this funding will become available in December 2009, but this will be finalised in consultation with RSTs.
How will the government know the money is being spent on sport?
The reporting requirements will not be onerous and bureaucratic, but will hold schools and Regional Sports Trusts to account that they are using the funds to promote sport.
Schools will account for the new funding as part of their annual reporting to the Ministry of Education. Regional Sports Trusts will demonstrate in annual reporting that new funding is delivering services to enable school-aged children to participate in organised sport.
Where has the money for KiwiSport come from?
The Ministers of Health, Education, and Sport and Recreation identified $82 million in expenditure in areas such as social marketing campaigns and websites and redirect it to fund sport in schools. Funding from the Sportfit programme for year 9-13 schools will be reallocated to KiwiSport.
How will the funding change affect the elements of Sportfit?
The tagged $5.3 million funding for sports coordinators is being reallocated as part of the $6 million direct funding to secondary schools. Schools can utilise this funding to continue to employ sports coordinators. Schools will also be able to work together to employ a sports coordinator for a cluster of school s in their area. It is up to schools to decide how to best use the funding to encourage more children into organised sport.
SPARC will continue to support out of baselines the 35 regional sports directors who help organise inter-school/region competition and play a vital role in supporting secondary school sport.
How will the Regional Partnership Fund work and how will schools benefit?
The Regional Partnership Fund will be allocated across the 17 Regional Sports Trusts around New Zealand. The funding will be distributed to RSTs on a per capita basis based on the number of school-aged children in each Trusts region.
The fund will encourage new partnerships involving schools, clubs, local authorities and RSTs to deliver more opportunities for children to play sport.
Why the name 'KiwiSport'?
'KiwiSport' was previously used by the government via the Hillary Commission for an initiative to help promote sport with school-aged children. The aim remains the same today. It is prudent to use a name the public is familiar with rather than spend taxpayer money developing new 'brands'.
How will schools receive the money?
The direct fund will be included in the Ministry of Education's operations grant paid quarterly to schools and will be identified as a separate line in their entitlement notice.
How will the Government ensure schools use the money to increase students' participation in organised sport?
In line with the Government's commitment to reducing compliance for schools, no additional reporting methods will be required. However schools will be asked to include a short statement in their annual report on how they have used the funding to increase student's participation in organised sport. Use of the funding will also be monitored as part of schools' regular ERO reviews.
What can schools spend the KiwiSport direct funding money on?
Anything that they can demonstrate increases the number of their students participating in organised sport. The fund is intended to support schools in establishing new opportunities for young people to get involved in sport, and as such is not intended to cover normal operating costs such as routine property or grounds maintenance. It is also subject to normal operational funding conditions which preclude major property costs, school transport, and the salaries of teachers employed as part of the school's staffing entitlement. Schools can contact the Ministry of Education help desk on 04 463 8353 if they would like further clarification on the use of the KiwiSport direct fund.
When can schools expect to receive the first payment?
Schools with Year 1-8 students will receive their first payment on 1 October 2009. Given that most secondary schools are receiving Sportfit funding until the end of the year, the first KiwiSport payment for schools with Year 9-13 students will be made on 1 January 2010.
Why is funding for Sportfit being absorbed into KiwiSport from 2010?
The KiwiSport funding structure provides more flexibility and fewer compliance requirements for secondary schools and this is in line with the Government's commitment to getting more money to the front line with lower administration costs.
How will the Kiwisport regional partnership fund work?
The KiwiSport regional partnership fund is designed to complement the KiwiSport direct fund by encouraging schools, clubs, community organisations and local businesses to collaborate in increasing opportunities for organised sport. The regional partnership fund will be funded through SPARC to regional sports trusts (RSTs). The RSTs will receive funding based on the number of enrolled students in their region calculated according to roll-return information from the Ministry of Education. RSTs will allocate funding to projects which can ensure new or increased opportunities for school-aged children to participate in organised sport at a community/regional level.
For further information on KiwiSport:
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