Sport Northland

About the Kauri Club

The Kauri Club was formed in July 2000 by Sport Northland, after a donation to the Trust by the family of the late Garry Frew, the legendary sports editor of the Northern Advocate and icon of Northland sport (inducted as a Northland Legend of Sport).

The objective is to support talented young sportspeople in Northland and give them every encouragement to advance their sporting careers and achievements. Through the generous support of Alan and Jackie Lints (Directors of Educare), we have been able to grow the fund and opportunities for athletes.

The Kauri Club recognises that Northland has a proud sporting history and that we need to do all we can to carry this great tradition on. It is important that homegrown sporting talent either remains or returns to Northland to build on the history and take it to another level.

Sport Northland has operated the Kauri Club since 2000, giving away over $295,000 to promising Northland sportspeople in their quest to reach national and international standards in their chosen sport.

Kauri Club Scholarships

Through the generous support of Alan and Jackie Lints in partnership with the Kauri Club, we are offering annual scholarships over a 12-month period (November to November) to promising young Northland athletes. The maximum scholarship given out is $2,500 per year, but it can be more or less than this depending on funds available and the panel's discretion.

What’s the Goal?

To help promising young athletes from Northland:

Develop their sporting skills
Grow personally and professionally
Stay connected to Northland and its proud sporting legacy

What Does the Scholarship Offer?

Thanks to the generous support from Alan and Jackie Lints, the Kauri Club offers annual scholarships (Nov–Nov) to help athletes with their development. The maximum amount awarded is $2,500 (amount may vary). Funds are paid in three parts - 50% upfront, 25% after progress updates, 25% after final accountability report.

What Can the Scholarship Be Used For?

The scholarship is mainly for athlete development, such as:

Physical training (gym, movement)
Coaching
Nutrition advice
Mental skills and life coaching
Development camps etc

75% of the funds must go toward development. The remaining 25% can be used for:

Travel
Competition fees
Gear and equipment

Before receiving funds, each athlete will have an individual performance planning session with Ady McKenzie (Athlete Support Advisor) to help athletes optimise the use of their funding.

Eligibility Criteria

For an athlete to be considered for a Kauri Club Scholarship, the athlete must meet the following criteria:

Must be aged 16 to 20 years at the time of application
Must be a financial member of a Northland Regional Sports Organisation (or a National Sports Organisation if no regional organisation exists) affiliated to Sport Northland and be a New Zealand resident.
Must live within either the Northland geographical region (Wellsford North) or their Regional Sports Organisation's Northland geographical region, if different, or represent Northland at their given sport. If an athlete lives outside of Northland for the purpose of pursuing their sport or education, the panel shall take into consideration the athlete's circumstances and their ability and commitment to represent Northland.
Must be committed to representing Northland or the sport's Northern district/zone, or equivalent (if no specific Northland option), for the 12-month period following the allocation of the scholarship
Must have already achieved a high level of competency in their chosen sport. i.e., should normally have achieved at a national level, be a New Zealand rep (age group or open) or those on the verge of New Zealand selection
Be endorsed by their Regional or National Sports Organisation (this will be sought as part of the review process by the Kauri Club)
Have the coach sign off/acknowledge the application

Should circumstances prevail, the Northland Sports Talent Development Panel (NSTDP) may consider applicants that fall outside the stated criteria.

Affiliation to Sport Northland

Your sport code must be affiliated to Sport Northland for you to be eligible to apply for Kauri Club Grants or Scholarships. Click here to see if your sport is affiliated.

Athlete Requirements

If an athlete is granted a Kauri Club Scholarship, the athlete agrees to:

Sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kauri Club
Undergo an Individual Performance Plan meeting with Ady McKenzie to decide on how the funds will be utilised

Utilise the funds for what they were intended for
When required, cooperate with, and/or take part in, public relations and promotional activities e.g., video for Kauri Club sponsors
Abstain from taking prohibited substances (knowingly or unknowingly)
Commit to regular communication with the Northland Sports Talent Development Panel and provide regular updates on achievements
Maintain behaviour and personal standards conducive to sporting excellence
Provide an accountability report for the funds spent

To Apply

For full application information, download the Kauri Club Scholarship Information here.

All applications must be made via the online form – Here

The athlete’s coach should complete the Coach Support Information form – Here

Applications close Sunday, 19 October 2025.

Endorsement/Verification

Your Regional Sports Organisations (or National Sports Organisations if there is no Northland RSO) will be asked to verify and endorse the information provided in your application.

For further information about the Kauri Club, please contact Janine Moy at Sport Northland on 09 437 9600 or janinem@sportnorth.co.nz.

Northland Sports Talent Development Panel

James Morris (Sports Codes)

Arriane Christie (Whangarei)

Cheryl Waaka (Far North)

Chris Biddles (Kaipara)

John Wansbone (Sport Northland)

Colleen Atchison (Whangarei)

KAURI CLUB

MEET OUR KAURI CLUB RECIPIENTS

KAURI CLUB​​​​​​​

MEET OUR KAURI CLUB RECIPIENTS

KAURI CLUB