Funding
Funding plays a large role in helping more people become more active, more often.
Community funding and grants can be sourced from many different places including philanthropic trusts, gaming trusts, lottery board and local government contracts. However, the funding and sponsorship market has become more difficult as funders and corporate sponsors look for a solid return on their investment.
This section of the website is for local sport and active recreation funding opportunities. You’ll find active Sport New Zealand funds, scholarships for athletes and coaches, along with alternative sources for grants and funds.
While Sport Bay of Plenty does not directly sponsor athletes or teams, we do wish you all the best for your fundraising.
Funding opportunities:
Funding to help your athletic career. Find scholarship opportunities from the BayTrust and Acorn Foundation.
The Mickell Scholarship
This scholarship was established following a bequest from John Mickell to BayTrust. Its purpose is to support coaches, officials, athletes and teams in the Bay of Plenty by providing financial assistance for travel to regional, national, and international competitions.
The Mickell Scholarship is now closed.
The next round of funding for 2026 will open on 23rd February and close on 29th March, 2026. Check back here on the 23rd of February for the application form.
Funding Structure & Eligibility
The Mickell Scholarship is open to young athletes and teams aged 15–23 years, as well as coaches and officials from age 15, provided they are coaching or officiating athletes aged 15–23 years, and residing within the Bay of Plenty regional boundaries in the current year (2026). Applicants must be from the Bay of Plenty and competing at regional, national, or international level to represent the Bay of Plenty.
Eligible costs must be for regional/national or international events during the period 20 April – 11 October 2026. Applicants must be endorsed by their Regional or National Sporting Organisation (RSO/NSO) and meet specific residency and geographical criteria.
Scholarship Values
Individual Athletes and Coaches: Up to $750 per scholarship. Must be residing permanently in the Bay of Plenty region; evidence may be requested.
The geographical barrier must be across sub-regional or regional boundaries.
For example, You live in Whākatane, and the competition is in Tauranga.
Teams: Up to $1,250 per scholarship. 80% of team members (participants) must be residing permanently in the Bay of Plenty region; evidence may be requested.
The geographical barrier must be across sub-regional or regional boundaries.
Eligible Costs
- Vehicle hire
- Fuel, accommodation and transport costs
- Airfares
Note: Uniforms, food, equipment and volunteer costs, such as payments / koha for services, are not eligible for funding.
Eligible Expenses Window
All expenses claimed under this scholarship must be incurred between 20 April and 20 October 2026. Details of travel schedule to be provided, as well as quotes for service and accommodation where applicable. Expenses outside of this timeframe will not be considered for reimbursement or funding support in this round. The next round of scholarship applications will include expenses incurred between 12 October 2026 and 26 April 2027.
Past Recipient
“Thanks to the Mickell Scholarship, I was able to give my best performance and make New Zealand history. Competing overseas was expensive, so having this support made a huge difference. Thanks team!” – Oliver Puchner
Oliver became the Vice C1M World Champion at the Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships in France this year.
Christine Tustain Sports Award
This award is to recognise the sporting talent found within the Western Bay of Plenty amongst our junior athletes and is designed to assist high achieving young athletes with further development and/or pathways to achieve their goals in international competitions.
Acorn Foundation Athlete Scholarships
Sport Bay of Plenty is proud to partner with the Acorn Foundation to recognise the sporting talent of our junior athletes found in the Western Bay of Plenty. The scholarships are designed to assist high achieving athletes in their development and international competition.
