Triathlon: Triathlon NZ realistic over funding cuts

Andrea Hewitt competing at the Rio Olympics. Photo / Getty Images

Triathlon New Zealand has as expected had a reduction in funding from High Performance Sport New Zealand, however HPSNZ has invested in the sport over the next two years, with a strong emphasis on the continued development of younger athletes.

HPSNZ has committed $1.5m of new funding to the sport over the next two years, with an emphasis on the future potential for the sport to again excel on the world stage, with that funding to be reviewed in 2018.

Tri NZ President Arthur Klap says the sport was always realistic about this funding round but is pleased that the money is there to continue the work of the HP Programme, in particular recent investment in youth and talent pathways.

"High performance sport is all about meeting the performance targets agreed upon and triathlon has not done that over the last four years. The Board fully expected to have funding reduced but do appreciate that HSPNZ has retained a level of funding that will enable us to show how our promising young athletes are tracking towards 2020 and 2024."

Klap says the relationship with HPSNZ is much more complex than an annual handout of money, with both parties engaged in a partnership to deliver success for the sport.

"We are an iconic New Zealand sport with a consistently high level of success over the last 30 years. We are confident that what we have learned from the last four years has put us in good stead for the next eight years. Quite rightly HSPNZ will want to see, over the next two years, that we have learned from the past and are implementing the right changes and our athletes are tracking well.

"With the full engagement of the triathlon community, I am positive that the future for triathlon is strong and that the next Erin Bakers, Rick Wells, Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty's will emerge."

Triathlon New Zealand will now look at plans for the ongoing investment of the funding made available today by HPSNZ for the next two years. Those discussions will include looking at other sources of funding and the best use of those funds to ensure the future success of the sport and that the pathways and development of young talent continues towards 2020 and 2024.