14 May 2003
Media Release

Budget Boost for Sport and Recreation

Nicholas Hill, Chief Executive of SPARC welcomed today's budget announcement for sport and recreation.

Hill says "we have been working with the Government over the past few months to firm up additional funding for sport and recreation. The announcement accelerates Government commitments to increase sport and recreation funding and includes a boost to funding for secondary school sport and physical activity.

"Now that we have the final figure confirmed SPARC is planning where we can best spend that money to make a difference. SPARC has three goals, to be the most active nation, to have effective sport and recreation systems and consistently win in events that matter to New Zealanders. This is a very broad mandate and we will ensure the additional funding goes toward achieving all three goals" says Hill.

SPARC has also received an $11 million boost (over five years) to support secondary school sport and physical activity. The funding is the result of negotiation with the Ministry of Education on areas of cooperation and focus and the additional funding is part of a suite of joint initiatives. SPARC has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry.

Getting young people active is a priority for SPARC. Recent research shows there has been a drop in the number of young people being active. This trend is consistent with studies that have suggested physical activity is declining and obesity is increasing among young people.

SPARC will be preparing its Statement of Intent over the next few weeks. This document will set out SPARC's spending priorities over the coming financial year. The Statement of Intent will be tabled in Parliament in late June.

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Check out the Home of NZ Sport Online - http://www.sparc.org.nz
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