Sport Waikato

Name

Sport Waikato

Legal name

Sport Waikato

Website

https://sportwaikato.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Sport Development

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Community Relations & Grassroots Program Management (MPAKAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF), Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

Keywords

• Regional sports trust
• Community sport development
• Sport funding administration
• Physical activity strategy
• School sport programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamilton

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Regional Contracts and Sponsorship: Sport Waikato is governed by a Board of Trustees and managed by a Chief Executive, funded through regional contracts and sponsorship. The organization receives ongoing support from national sport and recreation agencies including Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa, and key partners such as Trust Waikato, Brian Perry Charitable Trust, and local councils.
2. Tū Manawa Fund Administration: Sport Waikato administers the Sport NZ Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa fund in the Waikato region, providing funding to not-for-profit organisations, clubs, schools, and community groups for play, active recreation and sport projects for Tamariki and Rangatahi aged 5-18 years. Fund includes Community Activation Fund (flexible, needs-based) and Fast Fund (up to $5,000 for school-based projects).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sport Waikato is a non-profit Regional Sports Trust that delivers strategic regional leadership in play, active recreation and sport across the Waikato region of New Zealand (Coromandel to Turangi, Waihi to Kawhia). It administers the Sport NZ Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa fund for tamariki (5-11) and rangatahi (12-18), runs community sport programmes (KiwiSport, Healthy Active Learning, Positive Vibes Only), and produces regional planning frameworks (Moving Waikato Strategy, Waikato Regional Active Spaces Plan) for schools, clubs, councils, iwi, and sporting organisations.

Product overview

Sport Waikato operates as a Regional Sports Trust offering a portfolio of interconnected programmes and services focused on increasing physical activity across the Waikato region. The core offerings include the Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa Fund (split into Community Activation Fund and Fast Fund), the Positive Vibes Only campaign, the Waikato Regional Active Spaces Plan strategic framework, and Moving Waikato Strategy. Supporting programmes include KiwiSport for primary school sport, Healthy Active Learning for schools, Professional Learning Partners for teacher support, Wheako Frisbee for non-traditional sport, and a Resource Library. These services work together through collaboration with councils, schools, iwi, and sporting organisations to make play, active recreation and sport more accessible, exciting, relevant and inclusive.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa: A Sport New Zealand fund administered by Sport Waikato to help tamariki and rangatahi aged 5-18 access quality play, active recreation and sport opportunities.
• Positive Vibes Only
• Moving Waikato

Products and services

• Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa Fund A Sport New Zealand funding programme administered regionally by Sport Waikato that supports tamariki (5-11 years) and rangatahi (12-18 years) to access quality play, active recreation and sport opportunities. Includes the Community Activation Fund and Fast Fund streams.
• Community Activation Fund A sub-stream of the Tū Manawa fund supporting community-led projects in a responsive and needs-based way, with flexible, accessible funding accepted year-round through rolling applications from 1 July to 30 June.
• Fast Fund A rapid-response funding initiative within Tū Manawa designed to support school-based projects with minimal administration and quick turnaround, providing up to $5,000 to empower Sport Waikato staff to respond to grassroots opportunities.
• Positive Vibes Only (PVO) A region-wide campaign to improve adult behaviours and create positive sideline environments for tamariki and rangatahi in sport, addressing negative sideline behaviour through education and visual messaging, partnered with multiple Regional Sports Trusts.
• Waikato Regional Active Spaces Plan (WRASP) A high-level strategic framework for play, active recreation, and sport facilities across the Waikato region, providing planning, optimisation and investment guidance for spaces and places.
• Moving Waikato Strategy A unified strategy for physical activity through play, active recreation and sport for the Waikato region, developed in collaboration with key partners regionally and nationally, currently at the end of Horizon Two.
• Healthy Active Learning (HAL) An initiative helping create environments where tamariki can build positive relationships with movement, supporting schools in delivering quality Health and Physical Education, evolved from the earlier Project Energize programme.
• KiwiSport A programme connecting primary-aged students (Year 1-8) with a wide range of sporting opportunities through in-school delivery, removing financial and logistical barriers to participation.
• Professional Learning Partners Programme Expert support services for teachers to build confidence in delivering Health and Physical Education, supporting school leaders and teachers to implement HPE curriculum across the Waikato region.
• Resource Library A digital resource library containing 35+ downloadable resources, links, and insights for play, active recreation and sport organisations, including case studies, reports, templates, and tools covering Data & Insights, Facilities Planning, Reports & Plans, Club/Sport Capability, and Primary & Secondary Schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% of greater Waikato adults meeting physical activity guidelines
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Regional Sports Trusts (PVO Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Sport Waikato partnered with Sport Manawatu, Sport Whanganui, Sport Hawke's Bay, Sport Bay of Plenty, and Sport Taranaki to roll out Positive Vibes Only campaign regionally. Also working with Nuku Ora (Wellington).
• Hamilton City Netball CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed the Positive Vibes Only campaign originally piloted at UNISS Netball tournament in August 2023. Partnered to address sideline behaviour concerns and create positive sporting environments.
• Waikato Secondary School Sport Association (WSSSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides funding and support for Waikato Secondary Schools to take up Positive Vibes Only messaging in their schools.
• HalbergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisability sport organisation providing support for Tū Manawa applicants developing projects for disabled Tamariki and Rangatahi. Helps applicants design quality experiences.
• Ministry of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in school infrastructure projects including Open Country Community Stadium in Matamata. Also supports through curriculum guidance and school funding frameworks.
• Local Councils (Waikato Region)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Territorial Local Authorities across the Waikato region including Matamata-Piako District Council (Open Country Community Stadium), Hamilton City Council, and others for spaces and places planning, facility development, and local sport strategy.
• Health New Zealand | Te Whatu OracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth agency partner that recognises vital link between movement and long-term health outcomes. Has collaborated on initiatives including Project Energize (now Healthy Active Learning) and recognises connection between physical activity and wellbeing.
• King Country Rugby UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivered Tū Manawa-funded rugby rippa programme across kura in the region, culminating in Te Rohe Pōtae Kura Māori Rā Whutupōro Festival with 28 teams.
• Waikato UltimateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivered Wheako Frisbee programme introducing Ultimate Frisbee to Year 7-8 students through Tū Manawa-funded school sessions. Grew into regional tournament with 28 teams from 13 schools.
• Matamata Futures TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed vision and advocacy for Open Country Community Stadium in Matamata. Chair Frank Healey worked to bring partners together around shared goal of modern, sustainable facility.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Halberg Foundation: NZ disability sport organisation that supports Sport Waikato's Tū Manawa applicants for disabled tamariki and rangatahi. Adjacent peer in the inclusion/adapted-sport segment of the NZ sport ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Sport Bay of Plenty: Neighbouring Regional Sports Trust with an almost identical mandate, operating model (regional leadership, Tū Manawa administration, community sport delivery), and funder base. The most directly comparable peer.
• Sport Taranaki: Taranaki Regional Sports Trust and PVO co-adopter. Comparable as a regional trust delivering sport, recreation, and active-lifestyle programmes with public and charitable funding.
• Sport Hawke's Bay: Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Trust with the same regional leadership and Tū Manawa administration mandate. Directly comparable peer for funding, programmes, and stakeholder mix.
• Nuku Ora: Greater Wellington Regional Sports Trust and PVO co-adopter. Operates the same regional sport leadership and Tū Manawa administration model in the Wellington region.
• Sport Canterbury: Canterbury Regional Sports Trust delivering community sport, funding administration and school-based programmes. Directly comparable in scope, model, and target outcomes.
• Sport Manawatu: Manawatu Regional Sports Trust and co-adopter of the Positive Vibes Only campaign. Comparable regional trust focused on participation, grants administration, and community sport.
• Aktive – Auckland Sport & Recreation: Auckland Regional Sports Trust providing strategic leadership in play, active recreation and sport in the Auckland region. Comparable as another large-scale NZ Regional Sports Trust with similar programmes and partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Sport New Zealand (Ihi Aotearoa): National sport and recreation agency and Sport Waikato's primary funder and policy parent. Sets the national strategy that Regional Sports Trusts implement; directly comparable as the apex body in NZ's sport system.
• Recreation Aotearoa: National body representing the recreation industry in NZ. Adjacent incumbent in the same overall active-recreation system, providing industry advocacy, training, and capability building overlapping with Sport Waikato's mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SportWaikato
• Facebookfacebook.com/sportwaikato

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sport Waikato