Earlier this week I challenged Anne Tolley and Murray McCully on their funding cuts for programmes like Stage Challenge, the Pasifika Festival, PolyFest, kapa haka, and other events that have previously been sponsored through Mission On or Push Play. Information McCully provided in answer to Written Parliamentary Questions and during the Select Committee Estimates process suggested that all such sponsorship had been cut.
I now understand that Stage Challenge organisers have been given a verbal undertaking that sponsorship will continue, but that it will be funded through Education rather than SPARC. I hope that’s the case, because it would be a shame to see programmes like these end. Not all kids are sporty kids. Some prefer dance or drama, which are often just as beneficial from a physical activity/health perspective. It’s important that in their drive to get more kids playing sport the government doesn’t lose sight of that.