The $265 million earmarked for "sport recovery" in the 2020 budget should ensure that all areas are adequately funded.
An initial outlay of $80 million will help community sport and boost participation for those clubs (read all) who are struggling in the post "virus" times.
In a positive move funding to the tune of half-a-million dollars will help the men's and women's national basketball leagues.
I've long been a fan of how basketball has been run at a national level and given this "can do" proactive attitude it's little wonder there's been such wonderful engagement within the community.
HEARTLAND Rugby should have been played this year.
It was a "quick fix" from New Zealand Rugby to red card the competition and, I believe, a retrograde step.
While the decision not to play this season was flagged as fiscally responsible given the economic crisis rugby faced it seems to be rather premature given what could have been achieved.
And there's plenty of angst within Heartland unions that this "could be the thin end of the wedge" as one administrator told me.
"We've been given assurances that the competition is safe but with it not being played this year it's hardly ideal going forward.
"I think we need to be realistic and realise the competition and the format we used to play is a thing of the past."
It seems that's correct with a "pool" type or conference system (to use an American term) being looked at from next season.
I'VE had a "love-hate" relationship with Team New Zealand and the America's Cup.
There's always been a sense of "nationalistic" pride at how our teams, on and off-the-water, have punched above their weight against the heavy hitters.
But that's been outweighed by some of the arrogance, back-stabbing and over-the-top in-your-face nastiness that's often pervaded both Team New Zealand and the Cup.
I got a brutal lesson in that many years ago when I dared to break the story that the much heralded red socks were going to be made overseas and not in the provincial manufacturing capital of New Zealand - Levin.
To me it went against the very ethos of Team New Zealand being "our" team.
How could you - I wrote and commented on the wireless - be authentic by pulling the pin on a genuine manufacturer and asking us to buy socks made overseas?
It was a good yarn (no pun intended) but Team New Zealand didn't think so and I was given a not so subtle reminder about the issue. Sitting at my desk at the nation's watchdog (aka The Truth) my phone rang (those were the days before mobiles were generally accessible) and before I got out "Doug spea ..." boomed a voice.
"Who the f--- do you think you are? What's this sh-- about the socks? Aren't you with us?"
"Sorry - whose speaking," I squeaked.
"It's Peter Blake - and if you want to write any more sh-- like that come and see me."
So I did.
Funnily enough it's therapeutic what the sponsor's products can achieve.
Mind you Steinlager Classic has always been a favourite. It's fair to say Sir Peter and I were never close but we did sort that drama out and I got a few decent yarns from him in the following years.
That's how the America's Cup has panned out for me.
A seaborne roller-coaster ride over the years. A good example was the shameful Black Heart campaign (orchestrated by some egomaniac media and advertising types) targeting those who dared leave Team New Zealand for another syndicate, The vitriol aimed at the likes of Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth was disgraceful.
It also ruined Dave Dobbyn's song "Loyal" for me ... forever.
