Variety Sport
Variety Sport is a fund created in partnership with Sport NZ. It’s designed to get Kiwi kids involved in play, activities, and sports – so they can participate in the things they love to do.
Through Variety Sport, children and young people receiving Kiwi Kid Sponsorship get an additional $300 or $350 in 2026 to help get them active and moving.
How can I use
Variety Sport?
Use Variety Sport to help your child or young person be more active.
There are lots of way to do this.
Gear and equipment
Balls, bats, mouthguards, shinpads, kneepads, elbowpads, helmets.
Sport and club fees
Registration fees, coaching fees, competition fees, transport to competitions.
Sport clothing
Club and team uniforms, activewear, kits, gear.
Tools for play
Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, rollerskates, rollerblades, swing sets, trampolines.
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Any activity costs!
Variety Sport can be used in any way to support a child or young person to be active.
Can I apply?
Your child needs to be on Kiwi Kid Sponsorship to get Variety Sport.
You can apply for Kiwi Kid Sponsorship if your:
Child is aged 4 to 17 years
old
- Child is a NZ resident
or citizen
- You have a valid Community
Services Card
Get your kids moving with Variety Sport
Here are some ways you can use Variety Sport to encourage your kids to be active every day in as many ways as possible – while keeping it fun!
Martial arts
Use Variety Sport to pay for fees, uniforms, equipment, tournaments and any other martial arts costs.
Swimming
Use Variety Sport to pay for swim suits, googles, swimming caps, fees, and any other swimming costs.
Team sports
Use Variety Sport to pay for fees, uniforms, equipment, and other team sport costs.
Dancing/Cheerleading/Gymnastics
Use Variety Sport to pay for active wear, uniforms, shoes and any other related costs.
Walking/Hiking/Running
Use Variety Sport to pay for active wear, shoes, and any other related costs.
Cycling/Scootering/Skateboarding
Use Variety Sport to pay for a bicycle, scooter, skateboard, helmet, and any other related costs.
Kapa haka
Use Variety Sport to pay for fees, clothes, equipment, and other kapa haka costs.
Get active together as a whānau
Kids love it when the family is involved.
Connect with your local community
See what activities are available and explore local places like parks, bush walks, pools and sports fields.
Encourage play
Play is an essential way for children to be active and make sense of their world. Sport and other structured activities are only part of being active.
Find out how your child likes to be active
Parents and whānau play an important role in nurturing your child’s love of physical activity. Find out what is most important to your child when they are being active.
It’s not just about physical health
Being active is good for you and your kids’ mental, social and spiritual health too.
Being active encourages life skills
It provides the opportunity to develop social skills, confidence, self-esteem, resilience and more.
Try a wide variety of activities
Encourage kids to try many physical activities and sports during their school years, so they can find something they really enjoy doing.
Have any questions about Variety Sport?
Frequently asked questions
If you think Variety Sport would benefit your child, you need to apply for the Kiwi Kid Sponsorship programme.
Please be aware that Variety Sport funding is currently only available for 2026. If you apply now, there is no guarantee your child will receive Variety Sport funding.
This fund can be used in different ways to help your child or young person be more active.
Kids can be physically active through sports, after-school clubs or groups, or playing with friends.
Your child can use Variety Sport funding for swimming, running, cycling, dancing, kapa haka, football, netball, basketball, tennis, hockey, athletics, yoga, martial arts, skate boarding, and any other activities they are interested in.
You can access Variety Sport funding in the same way that you access your child’s Kiwi Kid Sponsorship funding.
There are three easy ways:
- Log into your Variety account and make a claim for what you need - for example, fees, equipment for play, or active wear
OR - Email an invoice to kiwikids@varietynz.org. Put Variety Sport in the subject line. We will pay the invoice directly to the provider
OR
- Ask your School Champion to submit a claim to Variety via our website.
We believe our kids are healthiest and happiest when they are involved in activities they really enjoy…and we don’t think they should miss out on any chance to participate because of cost.
| Kiwi Kid Sponsorship pays for… | Variety Sport pays for… |
|---|---|
| Clothing and shoes | Registration, lesson and coaching fees |
| Extra-curricular activities: school and club | Sports clothing and sports shoes |
| Bedding, blankets and towels | Equipment for sport and activities: swimming costumes, goggles, gloves etc. |
| School uniforms and stationery | Bikes, skateboards, scooters and helmets |
| School camp | Competition fees |
| Chromebooks | Transport to competitions |
| Medical costs | Team uniforms and costumes |
More questions?
Variety is a registered charitable organization under the Charities Act 2005.
Our Charities Commission registration number is CC24039.