Disability Sport Auckland

What Disability Sport Auckland does

Disability Sport Auckland (DSA) is a regional non-profit sports organisation founded in 1965 and headquartered at the Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit in Otara, Auckland, New Zealand. The organisation delivers inclusive sport, recreation, and play programmes for people with physical, visual, learning, and intellectual disabilities across the Auckland region, covering all ages and ability levels. Its core product portfolio comprises eight structured sports programmes (Athletics, Boccia, Adaptive Strength & Conditioning, Swimming, Table Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball, Rippa Rugby, and Stunt School) alongside community-facing initiatives such as the Inclusive Sports Club, the M\u0101tauranga Project school outreach, a Scholarship Programme, and signature events including the Halberg Games, Youth Awards, Awards Dinner, and Monthly Events. An equipment lending library (hand cycles, race runners, sports wheelchairs, trikes, and a DSA van) and a branded merchandise shop form auxiliary service lines.

DSA's business model is fundamentally a non-profit, grant-and-donation-funded operation rather than a commercial venture. Revenue is drawn from five streams: grants and trust funding (from organisations including Foundation North, Harbour Sport, Auckland Disability Trust, Access Community Health, the NZ Rugby Foundation, and Constellations Communities Trust), individual and corporate donations, modest programme registration fees (typically NZ$5–NZ$60 per session or term), merchandise sales (hoodies from NZ$50, T-shirts from NZ$25, jackets from NZ$55, socks NZ$10), and professionalised fundraising via an Adflex Marketing partnership covering face-to-face, events, and contact-centre channels. Participant-facing pricing is deliberately low or free for community programmes, with sibling discounts and free offerings (e.g., Rippa Rugby) to maximise accessibility.

The organisation operates with a lean staff of approximately 6 employees and is governed by a volunteer board including a CEO (Natasha Barber, appointed May 2025), Board Chair (Lincoln Jefferson, appointed October 2025, who also leads the Warriors Community Foundation), Treasurer, and board members drawn from journalism, law, sports governance, healthcare advocacy, and engineering. DSA's distribution is regional and direct: programmes are delivered at community venues and partner facilities across Auckland, with registration handled via website forms and outreach channelled through schools, disability support organisations (Le Va, Spinal Support NZ), national sport bodies (Basketball NZ, Badminton Oceania, Athletics NZ), and healthcare providers. The M\u0101tauranga Project and Voices of Strength / Le'o M\u0101lohi documentary represent its awareness-building and advocacy platforms rather than technology platforms; the underlying technology footprint is limited to a Squarespace website, online shop, newsletter, and social media presence.

Name

Disability Sport Auckland

Legal name

Disability Sport Auckland

Website

https://disabilitysportauckland.co.nz

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Disability Sport Auckland is a non-profit founded in 1965 delivering inclusive sport, recreation, and play programmes for people with physical, visual, learning, and intellectual disabilities across Auckland. It operates adaptive athletics, swimming, wheelchair basketball, boccia, and community events, funded by grants, donations, and nominal programme fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Sports and Recreation Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK), Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports programs
• Disability inclusion
• Recreation services
• Wheelchair basketball
• Adaptive athletics

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grants and Funding: Disability Sport Auckland receives funding from multiple trusts, foundations, and government bodies listed as funding partners. These include various community trusts and corporate foundations that provide financial support for programmes and operations.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support their mission of providing inclusive sport and recreation opportunities for people with disabilities.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including hoodies, t-shirts, jackets and socks through their online shop.
4. Programme Registration Fees: Modest programme fees charged for various sports programmes including athletics, wheelchair basketball, and adaptive strength and conditioning.
5. Fundraising Partnership: Partnership with Adflex Marketing for fundraising campaigns including face-to-face sales, special events, and contact centre operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Disability Sport Auckland delivers inclusive sport, recreation, and play programmes for people with physical, vision, intellectual, and neurological impairments across the Auckland region. The organization runs adaptive sports programmes (athletics, boccia, swimming, wheelchair basketball, table tennis, rippa rugby, strength and conditioning), operates an equipment rental library, hosts community events, and runs a scholarship programme and cultural education initiative (Mātauranga Project).

Product overview

Disability Sport Auckland is a regional sports organization offering a portfolio of disability-inclusive sports programmes, recreation activities, and community events across the Auckland region. The core offering consists of structured sports programmes (Athletics, Boccia, Adaptive Strength & Conditioning, Swimming, Table Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball, Rippa Rugby, Stunt School) supplemented by community initiatives (Inclusive Sports Club, Mātauranga Project, Scholarship Programme) and signature events (Halberg Games, Youth Awards, Awards Dinner, Monthly Events). Additional services include equipment rental (hand cycles, wheelchairs, trikes) and merchandise through the DSA Shop. The organization serves people with physical, visual, learning, and intellectual disabilities across all ages and abilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Athletics Programme Adaptive athletics coaching and competition programme for people with disabilities in Auckland, delivered by registered coaches.
• Boccia
• Wheelchair Basketball
• Swimming Programme
• Table Tennis
• Rippa Rugby
• Adaptive Strength & Conditioning
• Inclusive Sports Club
• Stunt School
• Equipment Rental
• DSA Shop

Quantifiable outcome

• 80 members participated in Halberg Games 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Orise GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Orise Group was responsible for filming, editing and producing the Voices of Strength documentary series.
• Muriwai Beach Horse TreksminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026Horse riding adventure exploring stunning coastline with beach views and bush trails.
• Basketball New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 November 2025Collaborated with Auckland Wheelbreakers and Dani Egle-Bast to deliver a Women & Girls wheelchair basketball camp at Auckland Spinal Unit.
• Auckland WheelbreakerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 November 2025Partnered with Basketball New Zealand and DSA for Women & Girls wheelchair basketball camp, helping grow the game.
• Wero Whitewater ParkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2025Partner for Women & Girls Day event, offering white water rafting experience for participants.
• Royal Family Dance CrewminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2025Delivered high energy dance workshop for Women & Girls Day, teaching challenging choreography.
• Jen the Adaptive YogiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2025Led adaptive yoga session for Women & Girls Day, creating welcoming space for movement.
• Warriors Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2025Warriors Community Foundation collaborates with DSA to deliver Wheelchair Rugby League at the Spinal Unit in Otara. Their CEO Lincoln Jefferson is DSA Board Chair.
• Sweet Axe Throwing CominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 April 2025Hosted axe throwing adventure with adaptive techniques shown for participants with various disabilities.
• National Foundation for Deaf & Hard of HearingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025NFDHH delivered Game On! Deaf Awareness in Sports workshop to DSA staff, covering basic NZ Sign Language specific to sports for more inclusive programme delivery.
• Auckland BadmintoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2025Collaborated with DSA and Badminton Oceania to host the All Disabilities Badminton Open Day at Auckland Badminton Centre.
• Badminton OceaniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2025Collaborated with DSA and Auckland Badminton to host the All Disabilities Badminton Open Day, promoting inclusive badminton sport.
• Marist Eastern Rugby ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Partnership with Marist Eastern Rugby Club to deliver Rippa Rugby programme for 8 action-packed weeks. Programme open to all disabilities and children aged 5-12.
• The Y Camp AdairminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Hosted first Recreation Day Camp featuring archery, ziplining, bush cooking and recreational activities.
• Adflex MarketingcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 September 2024Adflex works with charities in NZ and Australia to create customer acquisition and field engagement campaigns. Partnership enhances DSA fundraising efforts through face-to-face sales, special events, and contact centre operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Recreation Aotearoa: National body for the recreation industry in New Zealand, of which DSA is effectively a regional member. Useful benchmark for funding, advocacy, and sector-wide participation trends.
• Halberg Foundation: NZ charitable foundation that runs the Halberg Games — DSA's flagship event — and funds adaptive sport nationwide. Closely intertwined with DSA operationally but operates at a national, foundation level.
• Paralympics New Zealand: National umbrella body for Paralympic sport in New Zealand. Operates at national scope rather than regional, but shares DSA's adaptive-sport remit and serves as the elite pathway that DSA participants feed into.

Direct peers

• Parafed Auckland: Disability sport federation serving the Auckland region (DSA's own newsletter is branded 'Parafed Buzz'), suggesting deep organizational overlap. Most directly comparable peer given shared geography, audience, and remit.
• Disability Sports Australia: Australian peak body coordinating disability sport programmes and events across states. Comparable mission and operating model, but operating across multiple regions rather than a single Auckland-equivalent catchment.
• Parafed Wellington: Regional disability sports organization serving the Greater Wellington region with the same adapted sport, recreation, and equipment-support model as DSA, making it a like-for-like peer for benchmarking participation, funding, and programme structure.
• Parafed Canterbury: A regional Parafed (disability sport federation) covering the Canterbury region of New Zealand, operating a near-identical model of adapted sport programmes, equipment support, and community events for people with physical, visual, and intellectual disabilities.

Emerging players

• Blind & Low Vision New Zealand: National service organization for blind and low-vision New Zealanders. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but overlapping on the visual-disability segment DSA serves.
• Achilles New Zealand: NZ chapter of the global Achilles charity that supports people with disabilities in mainstream running and athletics events. A board member of DSA serves as NZ ambassador, indicating close overlap on athletics programming for disabled participants.
• Special Olympics New Zealand: Provides sport training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities across NZ. Overlaps with one of DSA's key segments (learning/intellectual disability) but does not cover physical or visual disabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/disabilitysportauckland

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 Disability Sport Auckland