Representative Fund

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be up to 19 years of age at the time of application
• Live in the Manawatū District
• Have been formally selected by a recognised organisation, governing body, or event organiser to represent the district, region, or New Zealand
• Be participating in an event, competition, conference, leadership forum, cultural activity, or other recognised representative activity

Applications may be submitted by the young person or by a parent/guardian on their behalf.

Applications for the Representative Fund may be submitted throughout the financial year until the available annual funding allocation has been exhausted.

Applications may apply for

• Up to $300 for individual representation at events within the Manawatū District, or
• Up to $500 for individual representation at events within New Zealand, or
• Up to $750 for individual representation at events held overseas, or
• Up to $1,500 for team representation at events within the Manawatū District, New Zealand or overseas.

Total Funding available is determined through Council’s Annual Plan and Long-Term Plan processes.

Applications must be submitted through Council’s online portal.

Applications will be assessed in the order they are received until the available annual funding allocation has been exhausted. They will consider:

• Priority may be given to first-time applicants where funding availability becomes limited
• Event costs and financial need
• Benefit to the young person (e.g. how participation will support growth, learning, leadership or cultural development)
• Performance against accountability measures for previous successful applicants

To ensure equitable distribution of funding, Council will not normally provide both individual and team funding support for the same representative event or activity. Where a team or group application has been approved, individual members of that team or group will not normally be eligible for separate funding for the same event, and vice versa.

The Representative Fund will not fund:

• Retrospective costs (events that have already taken place)
• Training, coaching, trials, qualifying events or practice rounds
• Equipment, uniforms, costumes, or gear not directly linked to the representative event
• Private lessons or tuition fees
• Representation for purely commercial or profit-driven activities
• Costs for accompanying adults (unless required for accessibility or safety reasons)

Recipients must:

• Use the funding only for the approved representative event
• Provide a short accountability summary within two months of the event including:
  • A brief reflection on their representative experience
  • A reflection on how they intend to or have shared their learning with others around them
  • A summary of how the funds were used
• Acknowledge Manawatū District Council’s support where appropriate
• Present their summary of their experience at a Council meeting (either by pre-recorded video or in person at Council or Youth Council meeting)