Sport Taranaki

What Sport Taranaki does

Sport Taranaki is a non-profit regional sports council founded in 1989, headquartered at Stadium Taranaki on Maratahu Street in New Plymouth, New Zealand, and operating with a 39-person staff team led by Chief Executive Michael Carr and Board Chair Nicole Chadwick. The organisation delivers sport, recreation, health, and play programmes across the Taranaki region under its 'Active for Life' vision, serving tamariki and rangatahi, older adults, people with disabilities, schools, and community sports clubs. Its core service portfolio includes Green Prescription (free physical-activity support for adults referred by health professionals, integrated with Best Practice e-referral), Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa funding administration (grants up to NZ$10,000 for youth sport organisations), Future Champions athlete mentoring (producing 5 Olympians, 85+ NZ representatives and 6 World Champions from 27 sporting codes), REPLAY sports gear redistribution (partnered with Waste Management NZ, with over 4,200 items reconnected in Taranaki), Strength and Balance classes for older adults (86% of attendees report reduced falls worry, ~30% falls-risk reduction), Moveable disability-inclusive programmes at Gymnastica Gym Club, Healthy Active Learning across 33 Taranaki schools, and the Kōia gardening-based wellbeing initiative. The technology layer is modest: a website with Activity Hub directory and Community Sport Calendar, e-referral integration with Best Practice, and SpacetoCo facility booking; no proprietary AI/ML, mobile applications, patents, or trademarks are present. Revenue is generated entirely through government contracts (Sport NZ, Ministry of Health, three district councils), charitable trust and foundation grants (Toi Foundation, NZCT, Taranaki Foundation, Taranaki Electricity Trust), and corporate sponsorship (TSB as major naming-rights sponsor for TSB Hub and TSB Stadium), with services delivered free of charge to end participants.

Name

Sport Taranaki

Legal name

Sport Taranaki

Website

https://sporttaranaki.org.nz

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sport Taranaki is a non-profit regional sports council founded in 1989 in New Plymouth, New Zealand, delivering free sport, recreation, health, and play programmes across the Taranaki region through a 39-person staff team funded by government, charitable trusts, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Sport and Recreation Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)

Keywords

• Community sport development
• Recreation programme delivery
• Youth sport funding
• Physical activity support
• Regional sports council

Headquarters

HQ city

New Plymouth

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government and Public Funding: Primary revenue from government bodies including Sport NZ, Ministry of Health, and local councils (New Plymouth District Council, Stratford District Council, South Taranaki District Council) for delivery of sport, recreation, and health programmes.
2. Trust and Foundation Grants: Funding from charitable trusts including Toi Foundation, Taranaki Foundation, NZCT (New Zealand Community Trust), Taranaki Electricity Trust, and other gaming trusts.
3. Sponsorship: Major sponsors support the organisation including TSB (TSB Hub, TSB Stadium), and various corporate sponsors for events like the Taranaki Sports Awards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sport Taranaki is a regional sports council delivering free community sport, active recreation, play, and health programmes across the Taranaki region of New Zealand. It coordinates health initiatives such as Green Prescription and Strength and Balance classes, youth development programmes including Future Champions mentoring, gear redistribution through REPLAY, school-based physical activity support via Healthy Active Learning, and facility planning through the Taranaki Facilities Consortium. Services are funded primarily through government, council, and trust grants, with sponsorships supporting events like the Taranaki Sports Awards.

Product overview

Sport Taranaki operates as a regional sports organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected programmes under its 'Active for Life' vision. The core offerings include health-focused services (Green Prescription, Kōia Gardening for Wellbeing), youth development (Tū Manawa Funding, Future Champions), community activation (REPLAY gear redistribution, Active Recreation, Play), and sport development (Good Sports, Balance is Better, Healthy Active Learning). Supporting infrastructure includes facility support through the Taranaki Facilities Consortium, coaching development services, the Activity Hub directory, Community Sport Calendar, and volunteer management. Recognition programmes include the Taranaki Sports Awards and Taranaki Sports Hall of Fame. The organization acts as a central hub connecting individuals and organizations with physical activity opportunities, funding, resources, and support services across the Taranaki region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Green Prescription Free support and motivation service that helps adults improve their wellbeing through physical activity and lifestyle changes. Advisors help individuals create achievable action plans and connect with community activity providers. Referrals accepted from GPs, practice nurses, and health professionals via the Best Practice e-referral system.
• Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa Funding Funding programme administered by Sport Taranaki for the Taranaki region, supporting organisations that provide play, active recreation, or sport opportunities to tamariki (5-11 years) and rangatahi (12-18 years), particularly those who are less active. Organisations can apply for up to $10,000 with a maximum of two live applications.
• Future Champions Programme Mentoring and personal development programme for emerging high-performing Taranaki athletes, delivered in partnership with TSSSA. Provides workshops covering nutrition, performance psychology, leadership, injury prevention, mental skills, media skills, strength and conditioning, and drug-free sport. Has supported over 150 athletes from 27 sporting codes, producing 5 Olympians, 85+ NZ reps/champions, and 6 World Champions.
• REPLAY: Reconnecting Sports Gear Programme that collects and redistributes quality sports gear free of charge to remove cost barriers to participation. Operates in partnership with Waste Management NZ, with 10 marked collection bins across Taranaki at sports hubs, schools, and businesses. Has reconnected over 4,200 items in Taranaki since inception.
• Strength and Balance Classes Free exercise sessions specially designed for older adults to build strength, improve balance, prevent falls and fractures, and maintain independence. Hosted by trained instructors across Taranaki neighbourhoods. 86% of attendees reported no longer worrying about falling, with nearly 30% reduction in falls risk.
• Moveable Programme Programme teaching fundamental movement skills to children and young people with physical, intellectual, and sensory impairments aged 5-21. Delivered at Gymnastica Gym Club in New Plymouth. Delivered in partnership with Parafed Taranaki, Halberg Foundation, and Special Olympics New Zealand.
• Positive Vibes Only Region-wide campaign to improve adult sideline behaviour at youth sports events and create more enjoyable environments for players, coaches, referees, administrators, and supporters. Originally piloted by Sport Waikato and Hamilton City Netball and brought to Taranaki in partnership with TSSSA.
• Active Recreation Programme supporting flexible, self-led physical activity options including the Active: Your Way video series showcasing how rangatahi get active across Taranaki through choice-based movement in everyday spaces.
• Tākaro | Play Programme supporting communities to recognize the value of play and create accessible, child-led opportunities for children to explore, move and connect, based on Sport NZ play principles.
• Good Sports Collaborative initiative working alongside regional sports organisations to improve sport for young people through community workshops on youth sport development, using Balance is Better materials.
• Healthy Active Learning School support programme partnering with 33 Taranaki schools to strengthen tamariki wellbeing through healthy eating, drinking, and quality physical activity. Supports food environments and physical education delivery.
• Coach Support Services Coaching development services including Coach Developer Training, Growing Coaches Programme for secondary school students, and access to NZ Coaching Resources and Balance is Better materials. Supports coaches, clubs, and organisations across Taranaki.
• Taranaki Facilities Consortium Collective of ten regional partners working collaboratively to address sport and recreation facility challenges across Taranaki, providing support, strategy, and alignment for facility projects including the proposed multi-sport hub in New Plymouth and TSB Hub in Hāwera.
• Taranaki Different and Better Change management project focused on ensuring sport and recreation meets participant needs and delivers future-focused opportunities for Taranaki people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
• Taranaki Sports Awards Annual regional sports awards held since 1965, celebrating sporting achievements and recognising sportspersons, teams, coaches, officials, volunteers, and clubs across Taranaki.
• Taranaki Sports Hall of Fame Hall of fame celebrating the achievements and contributions of Taranaki sportspeople, honouring legends who have made significant impacts regionally and nationally.
• Volunteer Programme Volunteer recruitment and management programme connecting volunteers with sporting events, offering prime event viewing spots, food, drink, and support in exchange for participation.
• Community Sport Calendar Online calendar enabling users to find and plan community youth sport seasonal events, interschool tournaments, and sporting information across Taranaki.
• Activity Hub Searchable directory of sport, recreation, and physical activity opportunities across Taranaki, allowing users to filter by activity type and locality to find options near them.
• Funding Sources and Resources Portal Comprehensive portal connecting organisations and individuals with funding opportunities through The Wheelhouse Project, NZCT, Toi Foundation, Taranaki Foundation, COGS, council grants, and other funding sources.
• Community Impact Awards Biennial awards recognising individuals who have made outstanding contributions to sport, active recreation, play, or physical activity in Taranaki, awarded as part of the Taranaki Sports Awards.
• Kōia - Gardening for Wellbeing Holistic gardening-based health initiative building on Green Prescription, coordinating community garden activities to boost physical, spiritual, emotional, and family/social wellbeing for up to a year. Funded by BAF (Bopts a Foundation), Pinnacle Midlands Health Network, and New Plymouth District Council.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% of Strength and Balance class attendees reported no longer worrying about falling
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New Plymouth District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategy partner in Taranaki Facilities Consortium. Works with Sport Taranaki on facility planning and the proposed multi-sport hub development in New Plymouth.
• Stratford District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategy partner in Taranaki Facilities Consortium supporting regional facility planning across Taranaki.
• South Taranaki District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategy partner in Taranaki Facilities Consortium. Partnership includes TSB Hub development in Hāwera.
• Taranaki Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategy partner in Taranaki Facilities Consortium contributing to regional active spaces planning.
• Sport NZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategy endorser in Taranaki Facilities Consortium. National sports body providing funding, strategy, and programmes including Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa.
• Venture TaranakiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategy endorser in Taranaki Facilities Consortium. Regional development agency supporting Taranaki's economic and community development.
• Waste Management (NZ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports REPLAY programme with 10 collection bins across Taranaki. Waste Management provides bins and collection support for sports gear redistribution scheme.
• Sport WaikatominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bring Positive Vibes Only campaign to Taranaki. Originally piloted by Sport Waikato and Hamilton City Netball.
• Taranaki Secondary Schools Sports Association (TSSSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for youth sport delivery. Sport Taranaki works with TSSSA on Future Champions programme, secondary school sports, and Positive Vibes Only campaign.
• Halberg FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational charity (founded 1963) connecting physically disabled young New Zealanders to sport and recreation opportunities. Provides inclusion training and activity funding.
• Parafed TaranakiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional organisation (founded 1976) growing sport and recreational opportunities for disabled people in Taranaki, providing pathways from regional to international levels.
• Special Olympics New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organisation enriching lives of people with intellectual disabilities through sport. Sport Taranaki connects participants to these opportunities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aktive (Sport Auckland): Auckland's regional sports trust delivering community sport, recreation, and active lifestyles programmes. Operates an identical model of council/government funding administration combined with health, youth, and grassroots sport programming in a larger urban market.
• Sport Wellington: Regional sports organisation for the greater Wellington region. Provides parallel services in funding administration, coaching development, facility support, and community sport programming under the Sport NZ regional network.
• Sport Bay of Plenty: Bay of Plenty regional sports trust providing community sport, recreation, and facility planning services. Another direct sibling in the Sport NZ regional network with parallel revenue streams and programme portfolio.
• Sport Canterbury: Canterbury regional sports trust delivering community sport development, school-based programmes, and recreational sport initiatives. Closely comparable in scope, funding mix, and stakeholder ecosystem to Sport Taranaki.
• Sport Waikato: Regional sports trust covering the Waikato region of New Zealand, operating the same model of community sport coordination, funding administration, and health/sport programmes. Already an explicit partner of Sport Taranaki via the Positive Vibes Only campaign.
• Sport Otago: Otago regional sports trust operating in a similar provincial NZ context to Sport Taranaki. Comparable mandate around community participation, school sport, and regional sport facility planning.

Broad incumbents

• Sport New Zealand (Sport NZ): National crown entity that funds and sets strategy for regional sports trusts including Sport Taranaki. Administrator of the Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa programme that Sport Taranaki delivers regionally; operates as a national-level parent rather than direct competitor.

Others

• NZ Recreation Association: National industry body for the recreation sector in New Zealand, providing advocacy, training, and standards. Adjacent enabling organisation in the same recreation ecosystem rather than a delivery competitor.
• Halberg Foundation: National NZ charity connecting physically disabled young people with sport and recreation opportunities. Active partner of Sport Taranaki for inclusion training and activity funding — thematically aligned and ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
• Special Olympics New Zealand: National organisation delivering sport programmes for people with intellectual disabilities. Sport Taranaki refers participants into Special Olympics pathways; comparable adaptive sport mission but nationally scoped and disability-specific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SportTaranaki
• Instagraminstagram.com/sporttaranaki
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sport-taranaki

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 Taranaki