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Our Work

Skateboarding has a rich, independent legacy in Aotearoa. It is an art form, a community, a culture, and a tool for developing self-confidence and grit. At Skateboarding New Zealand (SBNZ), we recognise that skateboarding doesn’t need formal organization to exist – that freedom is why we love it. Skateboarding has existed worldwide and grown as an activity, professional pursuit, and culture through many ups and downs over five decades without the input of official sporting bodies.

So what has changed? In short, the Olympics.

We now have arguably the most powerful sporting body globally involved with skateboarding, which has brought significant interest from the public, government bodies, sports administration, councils, and businesses. As a result, there is a vital need for a coherent voice for skateboarding and skateboarders to help navigate this landscape. For example, we are responsible for developing Olympic selection pathways, identifying and selecting skateboarders who want to compete at this level, and ensuring that we have facilities and coaching in place. We must provide the right opportunities, tools, and terrain to develop our athletes. We aim to structure this work to benefit all skateboarders, regardless of their reasons for choosing to ride a skateboard.

We are working through this from the ground up, taking advantage of this newfound mainstream acceptance while maintaining the popularity and integrity of skateboarding. Ultimately, our desire is to make skateboarding even better for skateboarders now and in the future.

2024-2034 Strategic Plan

The SBNZ 10-Year Strategic Plan defines our pathway. It is focus on five key pillars – Governance & Operations, Wellbeing, Participation, Facilities and High-Performance.

By 2034 we aim to support the culture and maintain the integrity of skateboarding and promote skateboarding as an accessible and social physical activity. We hope to create performance pathways for our athletes, coaches, judges and more and build a reputable name for the organisation and culture.

All of this and more can be viewed in our 10-Year Strategic Plan which is available to view.

Download the Strategic Plan

Strategic pillars

To bridge the gap between our culture’s heritage and this new mainstream era, SBNZ operates across five core strategic pillars. Through robust Governance & Operations, we maintain the legal frameworks and total transparency needed to run an accountable organisation, while our focus on Participation ensures we keep delivering grassroots workshops and facility advocacy so skateboarding remains accessible to everyone. We actively create clear development Pathways by upskilling accredited coaches and hosting flagship national events, while prioritising skateboarder Well-being to cultivate safe, judgment-free, and inclusive spaces for marginalised or neurodiverse youth. Finally, our High Performance framework carefully manages ring-fenced funding to support elite Kiwi athletes on the world stage, ensuring that whether a skater is dropping in for the first time or chasing an Olympic dream, they have the tools, terrain, and transparent support to thrive.

Guided by the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, SBNZ is run with good intentions, strict transparency, and open collaboration. We are here to serve the community, protect the culture, and ensure that the skateboarding ecosystem thrives for generations to come.

Governance
& operations

Working with national and international governance bodies. Local government and council facilitation.

Participation​

Supporting individuals and groups participating in skateboarding related activities.

Pathways​

Developing and implementing strategies for education, events, participation and high performance.

Well-being

Living our well-being values first. Delivering the strategic pillars, not at the expense of well-being.

High Performance

Success on the world stage, realising athletic potential & performing consistently.

Organisation values

At the heart of everything we do are our three core organisational values. We believe skateboarding should always be driven by joy, creativity, and self-expression, measuring our success not just in trophies, but in the vibrant, passionate energy of our community. To build lasting trust within that community, we are committed to being completely open – maintaining total structural transparency, clear communication, and an approachable framework where every skateboarder’s voice is welcomed. Above all, we are dedicated to creating an inclusive culture across Aotearoa that honours the diverse reasons people choose to ride. By actively dismantling social, financial, and physical barriers, we ensure our parks, events, and programs are safe, judgment-free spaces where everyone, regardless of age, gender, background, or ability, feels valued and empowered to express themselves.

Fun

Open

Inclusive

What is an NSO?

SBNZ is officially recognised by Sport NZ as the National Sporting Organisation (NSO) for skateboarding in New Zealand. Being an NSO means we are the trusted, designated governing authority responsible for overseeing the sport at a national level. This status gives us the legislative credibility to:

  • Apply for and distribute government funding (from Sport NZ and High Performance Sport NZ).
  • Act as a consultation bridge between local councils and the community for high-quality, authentic skatepark design.
  • Formulate official national safety guidelines, codes of conduct, and safe coaching practices.
  • Standardise selection policies alongside the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and World Skate for international competitions.