Rural Travel Fund
The Rural Travel Fund is designed to help subsidise travel for rural junior teams aged between 5 to 18 years by removing the barrier of travel costs so participants can compete in regular sporting competition. Sport New Zealand, who provide the funding, have the following guidelines for funding. Please read these guidelines before making an application.
The Rural Travel Fund covers travel to and from regular sporting events (competitions and practices) within the Far North District only. You can apply for up to half (50%) of your total travel costs. Funding must be for the upcoming season.
Tū Manawa – Active Aotearoa funding is now administered separately by Sport Northland – you can find more information on their website at https://www.sportnorthland.co.nz/whakatinana-hakinakina-l-helping-sport-happen/t-manawa-active-aotearoa-fund.
- You can now apply for this funding online - follow this link.
- If you are unable to complete the online application, you can still print and complete the download an application form here.
- Provide all the information requested - incomplete applications will not be processed.
- If you need help with your application contact us by calling 0800 920 029 and ask to speak to the Funding Advisor.
If you email your application and have not received an acknowledgement within 2 working days, please call 09 401 5775 to confirm it has been received.
Two funding rounds take place each year - one for winter sports at the start of the year and one for summer sports at the end of the year.
Decisions are made by local community boards – Te Hiku, Kaikohe-Hokianga and Bay of Islands-Whangaroa – with advice from Sport Northland representatives.
Applications for Summer 2024/25 sports closes on 6 September 2024, with decisions notified at the end of October 2024.
Applications for the Winter 2025 sports closes on 14 March 2025, with decisions notified by the end of April 2025.
Each community board receives funding based on the number of school-aged children between 5-19 years living in their area. This figure is calculated using the 2013 population census.
When your project is complete, you will need to submit a report detailing how you spent the money. This is also available as a MS word document upon request - email funding@fndc.govt.nz.
If you do not provide a project report at the end of the season, you will be ineligible to apply for funding from Council for 3 years.
There are many trusts and organisations other than Council that support sporting activities. To find out more contact Sport Northland.
2025/26 Application Deadlines
Summer 2025
Due to local body elections taking place at the end of 2025, applications for the Summer Rural Travel Funding round will close on Friday 25 July and will be considered at the community board meetings held in September.
Winter 2026
Applications for the Winter Rural Travel Funding round will close on Friday 6 March and will be considered at the community board meetings held in April and May 2026 (meeting dates are yet to be set for the 2026 year).
If you want to discuss your application before lodging it, please contact the Funding Advisor on 09 401 5775 or email funding@fndc.govt.nz