Donating Gear

Since we started out 8 years ago, we have established an effective and efficient process of reconnecting sport gear in Aotearoa. From our early days, of our garage filled to the brim with donated sport gear, to placing donation stations (wheelie bins) in regions around NZ, we now have a finely-honed reconnecting system of matching donations of sport gear to where the direct, most impactful need is. This places the circular sport gear economy at the heart of what we do, minimizing waste, and enabling gear to directly reach where it needs to go.

Please note, in some of our regions, we have donation stations to receive donated sport gear. These stations are located at several businesses and organisations, overseen by the Sport NZ Regional Sport Trust in that region.

Rugby & Football Boots

Boots are our most highly requested and needed sport gear item. A pair of rugby and football boots are a compulsory piece of sport gear, with the right size needed to enable effective participation on the field. The cost of new boots can be a challenge for a lot of families, especially the bigger the feet.

Through our replay Boot Connect initiative, operated from our base in the Manawatu, we receive and reconnect hundreds of football and rugby boots each year to individuals, schools, clubs and community organisations around NZ. Through a recent collaboration with Rebel Sport on their nationwide Boot Drive, we were delighted to receive over 1300 pairs of boots. We are currently receiving boots sent to our base in the Manawatu, with boot donation stations being available from September 2025 onwards in most regions around NZ. For our address details please email us, denise@replay.org.nz

Sneakers & Clothing

We gratefully accept donations of sneakers for our replay Shoe Connect initiative and most sport-branded clothing. These essential items are hugely appreciated in every region, especially for local community groups who have keen participants starting out with being physically active.

Please note, we are unable to receive team branded uniforms and corporate branded clothing, as these items are almost impossible to pass on. We are however currently working on several repurposing initiatives, we will update this space.

If you have a pair of sneakers and good quality clothing to pass on, please email us with a photo and description, we will advise a drop off point to re connect these items in your local community, thank you.

Sport & Play Gear

If you have a piece, or several pieces of sport gear to donate, we would love to hear from you. Part of our replay Gear Connect initiative, we have established a network of early childhood centres, schools and community organisations referred to us who need certain sport and play gear for their programmes, or just for use at break time to keep our kids active. Your donation will make a huge difference.

Please see the attached list of gear we love to receive. We will then match the items you kindly have to pass on with where the local need is, coordinating a direct local drop off.

Sport Gear Donation List

Repurposing old cricket pads

Over the last 8 years, since starting out, we have received a large number of older cricket pads – the (wonderful) classic buckle style, made of leather and cotton. Although we are unable to find a home for these well intended cricket pad donations, rather than having them go to landfill, we are working on several pilots to repurpose these for use in the animal welfare sector. Please get in touch if you have older pads to donate, we’d love to have your help to turn these old pads into another great use.

Gear Collection Drives

Several times a year, Secondary schools, businesses and sporting codes kindly offer to host a gear collection drive within their own school and staff communities. We require anyone interested in doing so to get in touch with us, denise@replay.org.nz before getting started, we will email you some information regarding the gear collection drive process.