A long-term scheme aimed at generating funds for New Zealand’s Paralympic athletes has received a top honour ©PNZ

A long-term scheme aimed at generating funds for New Zealand’s Paralympic athletes has scooped top honours in the not-for-profit category at the 2016 TVNZ New Zealand Marketing Awards.

Paralympics New Zealand’s (PNZ) "Spirit of Gold" fundraising scheme took the prize at the country’s most prestigious national industry awards.

The organisation was also a Judges Choice finalist in the areas of “insight”, “sustainability” and “marketing leadership”, with the Spirit of Gold initiative described as “transformational” for the governing body.

The PNZ scheme is designed to generate awareness and community engagement in Para sport in New Zealand, while also raising money for the country’s athletes who are due to compete at upcoming Paralympic Games.

This includes Rio 2016, due to get underway with the Opening Ceremony at the Maracanã Stadium on Wednesday (September 7), the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Paralympics and Tokyo 2020.

A team of 31 competitors are set to represent New Zealand at the Games in the Brazilian city.

PNZ chief executive Fiona Allan claimed she is proud of what the organisation has achieved ©Getty Images
PNZ chief executive Fiona Allan claimed she is proud of what the organisation has achieved ©Getty Images

"Next Thursday morning, 31 exceptionally talented Para athletes will enter the Maracanã Stadium, ready to bring home gold for New Zealand at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games,” said Rachel Froggatt, PNZ commercial and marketing director.

"It has been an honour for us to be able to bring their stories to life over the past year through the Spirit of Gold Initiative.

"To win a TVNZ New Zealand Marketing Award less than a year after launching the Spirit of Gold Initiative is overwhelming and I must commend the enormous effort put in by the entire Paralympics New Zealand team.

"The exceptional commitment of everyone, spanning from operations to high performance to senior management and the Board has been the key reason for this success."

As part of the Spirit of Gold initiative, PNZ embarked on a nationwide tour, visiting 85 schools, business and public spaces before last month.

PNZ has also attracted a number of high-profile sponsors since the programme was launched, including Cadbury’s, who signed on as a major partner of the governing body, Harvery Norman’s and VISA.

"I am incredibly proud of everything that the Paralympics New Zealand team has been able to achieve," PNZ chief executive Fiona Allan said.

"Not only are we supporting Para athletes to achieve medal-winning performances, we have also essentially delivered a gold medal in our marketing and commercial programme."