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 applications open on the 10th August 2026.
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.
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
The next round of scholarship applications will include expenses related to events that are 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
In 2025, Oliver became the Vice C1M World Champion at the Canoe Slalom U23 World Championships in France.
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.
The Christine Tustain Sports Award is now OPEN!
About Christine Tustain: Christine is a great fan of all sports, performing arts and classical music, and she is a generous supporter of animals and the environment. As a passionate traveller, she has visited no less than 80 countries, and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. She is a past volunteer of Hato Hone St John and Tauranga Hospital. She is an avid tennis player, being involved at the Otumoetai Tennis Club since 1980, where she has been treasurer and club captain at different times. These days Chris enjoys keeping fit with her tennis, cycling, walking and swimming.
She has been an incredibly generous supporter of young athletes since 2015, assisting 12 individuals to reach their goals. She has also supported 10 performing artists and classical musicians to hone their art.
Christine’s support of her community is nothing short of remarkable!
ELIGIBLE ATHLETES MUST:
1.Be studying, training or working in the Western Bay of Plenty at the time of the application.
2.Be aged between 16 – 23 at the time of application.
3.Have achieved national representation at their sport.
4.Be continuing in their chosen sport and will be able to outline their pathway towards international competitions.
5.Successful applicants will be required to write a personal letter of thanks to Christine and will be encouraged to meet with both a representation of the Acorn Foundation and Christine within 1–2 months of receiving the award.
Note:
No funding will be provided retrospectively.
Athletes attending university outside of the Western Bay of Plenty do not qualify for this scholarship.
SCHOLARSHIP VALUE:
This scholarship has a total value of $2,000. This scholarship has been kindly donated by Christine Tustain through the Acorn Foundation and will be awarded around May of each year. The scholarship may be awarded to one successful recipient or, on occasion, may be split between no more than two successful recipients.
REQIREMENTS:
Applicants must submit a personal statement outlining the reasons why they think they are suitable for this award.
Applicants must outline their previous achievements in sport.
Applicants must also submit two references:
One character reference; and
a second reference from their coaches, mentors or education providers.
Scholarships must be for sporting competition/educational or development purposes, with the ultimate aim to compete at international level.
Applications will be assessed by Sport BOP in the first instance, with the final decision being made by the Acorn Foundation/Christine Tustain.
Successful applicants will be asked to provide a written thank you letter to the donor and assist Sport Bay of Plenty and/or the Acorn Foundation with promotional material.
Regular updates of progress towards desired outcomes will be expected.
Applications will be considered depending on the event, priority will be given in order to Olympic Qualification, World Championships (senior), Commonwealth Games, World Champs (junior), New Zealand Event Representation, Development Tour Events, New Zealand Secondary School events.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Applications will be made directly with Sport BOP and must be submitted before the close off date of 3rd May 2026. At the close of applications a short listed group of coaches may be contacted by representatives of Sport Bay of Plenty.
All applications must be submitted here and be received by 5pm on May 3rd 2026.
For queries please email: [email protected]
