Paralympics New Zealand and Bupa Invest $73,000 in Eight Inclusive Para Sport Initiatives

Paralympics New Zealand and Bupa New Zealand have announced a combined $73,000 investment through the inaugural PNZ Bupa Inclusive Para Sport Grant, designed to benefit more than 1,200 individuals across the country.

The funding program supports national sports organisations, regional disability sport organisations, and community groups to break down participation barriers, foster inclusive environments, and strengthen long-term pathways for future Paralympic talent.

With 28 applications submitted for the initial funding round, the selection panel ultimately approved eight distinct initiatives covering the following sports: winter sports, cycling, athletics, water sports, and court disciplines.

Among the recipients, Snow Sports NZ secured backing to deliver a specialised Para alpine skiing and Para snowboard development camp at Cardrona Alpine Resort. The program targets athletes entering the training pathway, building technical capability while enhancing coaching standards.

Commenting on the value of the funding, Snow Sports NZ Para high-performance and pathways manager, Jane Stevens, said: “We are delighted to receive the support from the Bupa Grant.”

“The project will help us create a more accessible development pathway for emerging Para alpine skiers and Para snowboard athletes.

“While upskilling individual Para athletes, the project will also increase coach capability and give whānau a clearer understanding of the Para sport pathway.

“Longer term, this initiative will help increase the number of Para athletes moving into Para snow sport competition and strengthen the pipeline of future New Zealand winter Paralympians,” Stevens said.

Another major recipient includes the Rototuna Indoor Recreation Centre Trust, known as The Peak, which partnered with Parafed Waikato to host a large-scale adaptive sports day expected to engage hundreds of participants.

Emphasising the community impact of this financial boost, facility manager, Tiffany Ulatowski, added: “Receiving the grant will allow us to promote and celebrate adaptive Para sport and recreation for both disabled and non-disabled participants.”

“The day will foster inclusive participation, whānau integration, education and awareness of Para sport, while also connecting participants with Parafed Waikato to support more regular participation in Para sports,” Ulatowski noted. 

Selection panel member and paralympian, Cameron Leslie, noted the exceptional competitiveness of the application pool.

“The breadth and depth of applications was awesome to see, and it did not make selecting the eight successful applicants an easy task.”

“Having reached our decision, we are hugely excited by the initiatives selected, which will make a real difference to disabled people in Aotearoa New Zealand,” Leslie noted. 

Bupa New Zealand’s director of corporate affairs and sustainability, Michael Burgess, confirmed the commercial and community commitment behind the initiative, stating that high demand underscores an ongoing industry need for targeted funding solutions.

Following the success of this targeted pilot, Paralympics New Zealand and Bupa intend to explore expanding the grant program in 2027.

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