27/07/2026
Now in its seventh year, AA Insurance’s Big Little Sponsorship has seen an incredible response from communities across the country. This nationwide initiative invites nominations for primary schools, helping our youngest athletes take their first steps toward achieving their sporting dreams. With the generous support of our partners at Eden Park, we're thrilled to announce this year’s deserving winners.
The chance to win a share of $100,000 sports grants
Last year, we awarded four $10,000 sports grants to deserving schools. This year, we made the prizes even bigger, giving schools nationwide the opportunity to win one of ten $10,000 sports grants to help little athletes play a little freer. We had a great response, with over 4,000 nominations for 713 schools.
The judging panel
Our panel of judges was made up of representatives from Eden Park and AA Insurance. The judges had the challenge of picking our 2026 winning schools using our competition criteria: eligibility, strength of nomination, the potential impact of the grant for the school and its students and the importance of sport to the school.
Our Big Little Sponsorship 2026 winners
We’re thrilled to share the ten schools that have each won a $10,000 sports grant! Congratulations to Freyberg Community School, Lakeview School, Maungakaramea School, Manaia View School, Paengaroa School, Rewa Rewa School, Rotorua School, Springfield School, Taradale Primary School and Wakari School. Each school has received a $10,000 sports grant to help their students reach their sporting dreams.
Taradale Primary School in Napier plan to use the sports grant to replenish ageing sports equipment which they haven’t had the funds to update. Principal Johnathan Arnold was delighted to accept the sports grant:
“The grant will help support the replacement and upgrading of sports and physical activity equipment across the school. Our sports gear has been crying out for an upgrade for many years, but we simply haven’t had the spare funds to complete what has needed to be done.” Congratulations Taradale Primary School!
Rewa Rewa School in Wellington intend to use the sports grant to upgrade and maintain their school swimming pool, which is used by both their students and the wider community. Principal Stacey Mabey was delighted to accept the sports grant:
“This grant will go towards the upgrade of our ageing swimming pool, which schools are not funded for. It will enable us to reline it with a fibreglass membrane, ensuring that this vital resource remains available to future generations of children learning to swim.” Congratulations Rewa Rewa School!
Wakari School in Dunedin intend to use the sports grant to upgrade sports equipment and provide students with new uniforms. Principal Stacey Gribben was delighted to accept the sports grant:
“Sports uniforms - we need uniforms for our miniball players and netball bibs plus some of our current sports uniforms are not in a good state and need replacing. Cricket sets for lunchtime play and practise. New balls for football/miniball etc for class PE lessons and sports. Tennis balls, hockey sticks. A lot of our current gear is way past its best and in some cases no longer functional. This will give us the opportunity to replenish our sports and PE gear.” Well done, Wakari School!
A heartfelt congratulations to our winning schools and to the communities who got behind them!
