New Zealand's dominant performance at last year's World Bowls has ensured the backing of Sparc before next year's Commonwealth Games and the world championships in 2012.
Sparc has given Bowls New Zealand $350,000 for this year's high performance programme with the objective of winning medals at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
Sparc is investing $4.8 million in 18 contestable sports this year aimed at having more New Zealand athletes and teams winning on the world stage.
There is continued multi-year support for paralympics, winter sports, bowls, flat water canoeing and men's hockey, reflecting good performances at the elite level and potential for achievement.
The contestable investment package will be followed by a further investment announcement next month for the nine targeted sports (athletics, bike, netball, cricket, rowing, rugby, sailing, swimming and triathlon.)Sparc high performance manager Martin Toomey said the investments are based on Sparc's successful High Performance Strategy that targets sports with the best prospects of international success at Olympics, world championships and Paralympics.
"The funding reflects performance," Toomey said. "Sports that have delivered and have a clear and realistic plan to be successful in the future have gained support.
"The Beijing Olympics confirmed the High Performance Strategy is working and the approach New Zealand must take if it wants to remain competitive in international sport."
Bowls New Zealand chief executive Kerry Clark said New Zealand was now the world's leading nation in bowls and it went back over a long time.
"Four gold and two bronze medals from eight possible disciplines and the overall men's teams award [Leonard Trophy] was a result we are proud of," Clark said.
Gary Lawson (men) and Val Smith (women) both won two gold medals and were named the players of the tournament at World Bowls.
"This was the finest team performance by any New Zealand bowls team," Clark said.
"The medal collection was the result of a huge preparation by the administrative and coaching facilities of Bowls New Zealand.
"It was a team effort by 10 players, who all deserve recognition for their role. It seemed only fair that all 10 won medals."
Bowls was first held at the Commonwealth Games in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930 and the first World Bowls was held in Sydney in 1966.
At the Commonwealth Games, New Zealand and England head the medal count with 34. Australia has won 32 medals.
At World Bowls, New Zealand is the top country with 16 medals.
"New Zealand leads the field in bowls," Clark said.
"It is a tremendous achievement and brings great credit to our sport."
Clark wants New Zealand bowls to retain its top spot in the international arena.
"The challenge is that we now move off again to the world of the unknown."
He was referring to the conditions of the bowling greens in New Delhi in India for the Commonwealth Games in 2010.
India does not have any bowling greens and the sport will be played on artificial rinks at the Commonwealth Games.
In New Delhi, six bowls medals are up for grabs and Bowls New Zealand wants to win at least three.
"I'm not saying what colour," Clark said. "I hope we can do better than that. We have a plan and will be targeting medals at New Delhi."
Bowls is not an Olympic sport and has been categorised by Sparc as a funding sport.
"Our funding is based on results. I don't have any problems around that. At that level, we are looking to build on the outstanding results from World Bowls."
Bowls New Zealand is also looking to the future and has developed a Player Development Pathway.
"It started last August and we have formed five development squads throughout the country," Clark said.
Dunedin's Terry Scott is one of the coaches of this group.
