Westpac New Zealand is Halberg Trust's new major sponsor and has assumed the naming rights for the trust's annual awards.
The deal is for three years and the awards will be known as the Westpac Halberg Awards.
Apart from the awards, the sponsorship covers an emerging talent categoryfor which the bank will provide a $25,000 scholarship to the winner, a series of regional fundraising lunches and associated community programmes.
Trust founder Sir Murray Halberg said he was delighted that one of the country's leading banking institutions had chosen to put its financial muscle behind the trust.
"With Westpac behind us, we can look to the future with confidence and vigour," he said.
The Halberg Trust was established back in 1963 by Sir Murray with a view to raising funds for disadvantaged children. It revived the sportsman of the year award later that year, which had started in 1949 and lapsed in 1961.
The 2006 Westpac Halberg Awards will be held at the Sky City Convention centre on February 15, 2007.
