Achilles New Zealand

What Achilles New Zealand does

Achilles New Zealand is a registered charity (CC50645) and Inland Revenue-approved Donee Organisation founded in 1993 in Auckland by John Riley, an above-knee amputee, and Peter Loft. The organization enables people with disabilities to participate in road and trail races, access safe and inclusive training environments, and connect with a peer community of athletes and volunteer guides. It operates as the New Zealand affiliate of the global Achilles International network and serves members across the country through 11 regional chapters, including a South Island presence rebuilt via the October 2024 relaunch of its Dunedin chapter.

Service delivery is volunteer-driven and structured around guided training and race participation, a youth engagement program, and access to international pinnacle events through the Achilles International partnership. The organization runs with a small staff of approximately 9 people supporting chapter operations, partnerships, and communications; the underlying technology footprint is limited to a Shopify-based merchandise storefront and standard digital communications tooling, with no proprietary technology platform underpinning the core guided-running service.

Revenue is generated across three streams: individual memberships (with a youth/student tier priced at NZ$25 per year), tax-deductible donations from individuals and grant-making trusts, and merchandise sales. Major funding partners include Sport New Zealand, Foundation North, and Lottery National Community Fund, supplemented by in-kind sponsorships from Champion System (apparel), Sully and Co Travel, and Hercules Instant Shelter. Governance is provided by a board chaired since April 2024 by Paul Barclay, alongside directors Luke Bailey (Treasurer), Lee Warn, Natasha Cubis, Deb Sheard, with Keith Mitchell serving as South Island board observer, and operational leadership held by National Manager Maia Lewis.

Name

Achilles New Zealand

Legal name

Achilles New Zealand

Website

https://achillesnewzealand.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Achilles New Zealand is a registered charity founded in 1993 that enables people with disabilities to participate in road races through volunteer-guided training across 11 regional chapters nationwide, generating revenue from memberships, donations, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Sports and Disability Recreation Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Injury Prevention, Disability & Rehabilitation Programs (BPADAIAM)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports programs
• Volunteer guide services
• Disability athletics support
• Accessible running events
• Community marathon participation

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from athletes and volunteers. Youth/student membership priced at $25/year. General membership provides access to training sessions, events, and support.
2. Donations: Charitable donations accepted to support operations and athlete participation. Achilles NZ is registered with the Charities Commission (# CC50645) and is an Inland Revenue approved Donee Organisation, enabling tax-deductible donations.
3. Shop Sales: Sale of Achilles branded merchandise including clothing items (t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, caps) through an online Shopify store. Discounts available for bulk orders of 5+ items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Achilles New Zealand is a registered charity that matches disabled athletes with trained volunteer guides to enable participation in mainstream running events. The organization operates 11 local chapters across New Zealand that deliver regular training sessions, and provides support at national and international marathons including the New York Marathon, Auckland Marathon, and World Major Marathons. Services are funded through annual membership fees, donations, and branded merchandise sales.

Product overview

Achilles New Zealand is a charity organization providing a community-based platform that enables disabled people to participate in mainstream running events. The core offering consists of guide matching services that pair disabled athletes with trained volunteer guides, delivered through 11 local chapters across New Zealand that run regular training sessions. Additional services include pinnacle event support at major national and international marathons, a merchandise shop selling Achilles-branded clothing, youth programs for children with disabilities, and comprehensive volunteer guide training. The organization operates as a membership-based charity with a National Manager and local chapter leads coordinating activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Achilles InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal parent organization providing individual and chapter scholarships, international event connections including Abbott World Major Marathons, and global network support.
• Champion SystemcoreOthersPreferred apparel supplier providing Achilles branded clothing items including t-shirts, hoodies, and jackets. Hayden from Champion System facilitates the Achilles online shop.
• Sully and Co TravelcoreOthersPreferred travel broker for Achilles NZ, helping arrange travel for athletes and guides to international events.
• Hercules Instant SheltercoreOthersPreferred supplier for gazebos, banners, and event collateral for Achilles events and pinnacle event support.
• Warriors Community FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides support for Achilles athletes at Auckland Marathon events.
• AccessableminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAccessibility organization providing support for Achilles athletes at Auckland Marathon.
• Supported Lifestyle ServicesminorOthersProvides regional support for Achilles chapters in Manawatū and Hawkes Bay.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Achilles Freedom Team of Wodonga: Australian Achilles chapter focused on injured veterans and people with disabilities. Same global network but different regional focus and constituency.

Direct peers

• Achilles International: Global parent organisation of Achilles NZ, founded in 1983 by Dick Traum. Operates the same disabled-athlete guide-matching model in multiple countries and provides NZ athletes access to international marathons and scholarships.
• Special Olympics New Zealand: Provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities across NZ. Competes for the same disability-sport grants, athletes, and volunteers as Achilles NZ.
• Blind Sport New Zealand: NZ organisation enabling blind and low-vision athletes to participate in sport. Overlaps with Achilles NZ's visual-impaired athlete population and shares board members (e.g. Maia Lewis sits on its board).
• Achilles Australia: Australian counterpart under the Achilles International umbrella, offering the same guide-supported running model for people with disabilities. Closest geographic and structural peer to Achilles NZ.

Broad incumbents

• Paralympics New Zealand: National body representing NZ at the Paralympic Games. Operates across multiple sports rather than focusing on running, but competes for the same disability-sport funding and disabled-athlete talent pool.
• Halberg Foundation: NZ charity focused on physical disability inclusion through sport. Overlaps with Achilles NZ's mission; National Manager Maia Lewis worked there for five years, indicating close ecosystem ties.
• Athletics New Zealand: National governing body for athletics in NZ. Provides the broader race infrastructure and event pathways that Achilles NZ athletes participate in; not a direct competitor but a critical ecosystem partner.
• Disabled Persons Assembly New Zealand: National cross-disability advocacy organisation. Operates more broadly than sport but competes for disability-focused funding and policy attention in NZ.

Others

• Sport New Zealand: Crown entity funding community sport including disability inclusion. Major financial partner of Achilles NZ and a key stakeholder in the broader NZ disability-sport ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/achilleswellington
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/achilles-international-new-zealand

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Achilles New Zealand