Sport & Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) announced that women's football would receive NZ$300,000 (£109,000)  investment for 2009 as part of a $725,000 (£265.640) investment through to the 2012 Olympics.

 

It follows a series of impressive performances at at the 2007 World Cup, the Beijing Olympics, under-17 and under-20 World Cups.

 

But the losers are women's hockey, women's basketball and badminton which last year shared a total of NZ$1 million (£366,000) in funding but receive nothing on this occasion.

 

Today's announcement will be followed by a further investment announcement in February for the nine targeted sports - athletics, cycling, netball, cricket, rowing, rugby, sailing, swimming and triathlon.

 

SPARC high performance manager Martin Toomey said the investments are based on its high performance strategy which targets sports with the best prospects of international success at Olympics, world championships and Paralympics.

 

He said: "The funding reflects performance.

 

"Sports which have delivered and have a clear, realistic plan to be successful in the future have gained support.

 

"The Beijing Olympics confirmed the high performance strategy is working and the approach New Zealand must take if it wants to remain competitive in international sport."

 

There is continued multi-year support for Paralympics, winter sports, bowls, flat water canoeing and men's hockey, reflecting good performances at the elite level and potential for future achievement.

 

Sports such as archery, gymsports, beach volleyball and wrestling got "tailored applications" for smaller investments targeting specific athletes with a realistic chance of international success.

 

Toomey said: "We've had to make some tough calls, but SPARC believes they are the right ones. The criteria is known and understood by the various sports organisations.

 

"Some sports or teams have missed out under the high performance contestable funding criteria due to recent performances at the elite level.

 

"It is important to remember Sparc will continue to provide support and investment to these organisations."

 

Overall, SPARC will invest in excess of NZ$32 million (£11.7 million) in high performance sport in 2008/09, including Prime Minister's Scholarships, performance enhancement grants and New Zealand Academy of Sport performance services.

 

Men's hockey gets the largest increase, from $400,000 (£146,479) to $700,000 (£256,339), while other such as men's basketball, flat water canoeing, and winter sports get increases from $50,000 (£18,285)  to $100,000 (£36,570).