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FIFA World Cup 2026 poster‘We owe so much’: Olympic champion Kerr's initiative to give back to athletics
Savannah Lendich Jonkers • May 21st, 2026 3:45 pm
With the recognition from athletes that funding to get to the world stage is not equal, some of New Zealand's elite have committed to adding more value to the black singlet.
Aotearoa Athletics Trust founded by Hamish Kerr, Tom Walsh and Portia Bing in 2025 vows to help close the funding gap for New Zealand track and field athletes looking to compete on the world stage.
Kerr - also known as the golden boy of New Zealand athletics - told Sport Nation Mornings the last year has been nothing short of exciting.
He said while competing at the World Champs a few years ago, himself and Walsh witnessed first-hand the struggles their compatriots faced with half the NZ team self-funded to represent the country.
“We just thought it didn't really sit that well, being in a space where everyone's there, giving it their all, yet we're on such different terms financially.”
Tom Walsh wins the men's shot put final during the World Athletics Indoor Championships | Photo: Photosport
The pair found a market where athletes are good enough to qualify for major events, yet are unfunded.
“The idea is that they get the opportunity to go to those major events through funding from us and from other parties.
“Through that they can go there, they can prove themselves and then hopefully get on to funding and continue off into the big wide world.”
He said since setting up the trust, they have been able to raise a reasonable amount of money from various initiatives.
“We've got eight athletes that we've selected for grants this year. Obviously, Comm Games selections haven't come out yet, officially, but we're hoping that a vast majority of those athletes that we've selected will also get selected.”
Izzy Dagg sits down with Hamish Kerr and Tom Walsh over a feed of fish and chips | Sport Nation
“I think that it just kind of goes back to the fact that me and Tommy, we just feel like we owe so much to our sport and we just love what we do.
“So we just want as many people to come and join us on the journey.”
With big goals on the horizon, they believe the concept has been received well and each time new athletes are announced and money is raised, it adds more legitimacy to the cause.
“We're just hoping that, the more people see that we're here and we're wanting to really make a difference to the sport, hopefully people can just really get behind it.
Listen to the full interview below:
