The governing body for Para-sport in New Zealand was awarded an increase of NZD$200,000 (£100,000/$160,000/€125,000) per annum during the High Performance Sport New Zealand's mid-cycle investment evaluation.

This investment, which now totals NZD$1.9 million (£950,000/$1.5 million/€1.2 million), will support gold medal potential athletes aiming for Rio 2016.

Even with the additional funds, PNZ has recognised a need to seek extra private funding from the business community and public in order to increase the support for talent development athletes to accelerate their medal hopes for Rio 2016 and onward to Tokyo 2020.

New Zealand won 17 medals in total, including six gold medals, and finished 21st on the medals table at London 2012, a performance they claim made them the most successful nation per capita.

This private funding will also help the PNZ build sustainable programmes in line with High Performance Sport New Zealand aims and objectives.

"Paralympics New Zealand is very grateful to have received a further NZD$200,000 per year from High Performance Sport New Zealand in 2015 and 2016, and we are especially pleased that High Performance Sport New Zealand expressed very strong confidence in our programmes and people," said Fiona Allan, chief executive of PNZ.

"Paralympics New Zealand has grown in leaps and bounds since London 2012, but for the first time, success has become our enemy.

"We now have more athletes than ever, thanks to our extensive talent identification programme. But with this comes significantly increased costs.

"Analysis by our high performance team clearly demonstrates we have the athlete talent to win the 12 gold medals we have targeted for Rio 2016, which would double our tally from London 2012.

"But even with the additional HPSNZ funding, we need a further NZD$650,000 (£325,000/$508,000/€409,000) for 2015 and NZD$800,000 (£400,000/$626,000/€503,000) for the Paralympic Games year, 2016, to secure gold medal success and further build a sustainable programme toward Tokyo 2020."

New Zealand were the most successful nation per capita at the London 2012 Paralympic Games ©Getty Images


PNZ's necessity to adapt their organisation to keep up with the ever changing and evolving world of sport was recognised last month with the appointment of commercial and marketing director Rachel Froggatt.

Froggatt was brought in to work with existing stakeholders to reduce costs through smarter partnerships with suppliers and partners, and will look to diversify income via grants, TV broadcast, commercial partners, fundraising and bequests.

"Paralympics New Zealand will be running a very flexible commercial programme," said Froggatt.

"We will focus on working innovatively with interested partners to develop bespoke programmes designed to help meet their business objectives in a clear and measurable way.

"The beauty is that PNZ is not just a sports organisation, but promotes social change for the 1.1 million kiwis living with disability.

"This makes it a very unique proposition for brands."

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