Invictus Games Foundation Strengthens Year-Round Support for Veterans in New Zealand

The Invictus Games Foundation has awarded a £3,500 grant to New Zealand Invictus Endeavours (NZIE) to support wounded, injured and sick (WIS) service personnel and veterans in participating in single-day sporting events across New Zealand throughout 2026.

The funding will enable NZIE to coordinate access to a series of third-party organised endurance-based events, including running and cycling activities. Participation will take place at multiple locations nationwide, alongside other agreed events across the calendar year.

The grant will be used exclusively to cover event entry fees, removing a key barrier to participation and ensuring members of the NZIE community can access regular opportunities that promote physical wellbeing, confidence and peer connection through sport.

"The members of the Invictus Community in New Zealand, continue to be generously supported beyond the Games by the Invictus Games Foundation. This grant is yet another fantastic example of the Invictus Spirit. It enables our community to continue participating in local walking, running, swimming and cycling activities around New Zealand," said Robert Graham, former Invictus Games competitor and member of NZIE.

Robert was reminded of a māori whakatauki proverb "Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi" translated to "my success is not mine, it comes from the collective".

The programme reflects the Invictus Games Foundation’s operating model of locally led delivery. NZIE will coordinate registrations and allocate participation places in response to demand within the New Zealand WIS community, ensuring activities are shaped by interest and relevance at a local level.

By providing a single, proportionate grant covering multiple events across the year, this approach will support sustained engagement beyond a single competition moment and reinforces the role of sport in long-term recovery.

"We are incredibly grateful to receive this grant, which will significantly bolster our support for the New Zealand Wounded, Injured, and Sick (WIS) community. This funding allows us to extend our reach, moving away from centralised events to offer location based activities tailored to local needs," said Stacey Adams, former Invictus Games competitor and member of NZIE.

"By bringing these opportunities directly to our veterans, we are removing the significant burden of travel and ensuring they have their friends and family close by for support during demanding events like marathons, endurance swims, and cycle events. Our hope is that this will not only empower those transitioning beyond the Games but also provide a pathway for those new to the WIS community," Stacey said.

While the Invictus Games remain a powerful international platform, this grant reflects the Foundation’s broader strategic direction announced at Invictus Horizons. The newly announced strategy places increased emphasis on strengthening and supporting the existing global community of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans that make up the Invictus Community of Nations, ensuring impact is felt not only at Games time, but throughout the year.

Programmes such as this, delivered by national entities like NZIE, demonstrate how the Invictus Spirit continues beyond the competition arena, supporting connection, recovery and resilience within communities long after the closing ceremony.