A three-year programme to boost New Zealand's para athletes, aims to build not only their sporting skills, but their networks into the sports community.

Being a para-athlete or coach can be a lonely existence when athlete numbers are low in any individual para sport and para athletes have a wide range of impairments.

Paralympics New Zealand with the support of ACC wants to increase the opportunities to build connections, confidence and knowledge with the introduction of the Para Sport Collective, targeting promising para athletes and coaches.

Felicity Reid has this report.