Waikanae estuary

Introduction

Links to national organisations who provide funding and grants for community conservation groups.

There are many organisations that provide funding to individuals and community groups for conservation and environmental projects. Some are listed on this page. 

Online search tool – Generosity New Zealand

Generosity New Zealand has online search tools that can connect people to funding opportunities.

Generosity New Zealand

Their tool, GivUS, offers access to more than 1,200 grants and schemes for communities, volunteer organisations, school groups, sports clubs and iwi.

You will need to register for this website. But you can access it for free at your local library computer or website.

GivUS tool

Regional funding

Local and regional councils

Local and regional councils
Many local and regional councils have environmental funds available for landowners and/or community groups. Contact your local council for further information.

Community trusts

Community trusts
New Zealand has an expansive regional network of community trusts. One of the roles of these community trusts is to provide funding support to a range of community organisations and charities.

National funding

Auckland Zoo

Conservation fund
Zoo staff established this fund to support conservation efforts in the wild, in New Zealand and overseas.

Backcountry Trust

Backcountry Trust fund 
Funding for the maintenance of existing huts and tracks that would not otherwise be undertaken by DOC.

Department of Internal Affairs

Community Internship Programme 
Funds hapū, iwi or community groups to employ skilled professionals to work as an intern with the community group for three to six months.

Community Organisation Grants Scheme
Provides grants to non-profit organisations delivering community-based social services that contribute to achieving locally determined outcomes.

Support for Volunteering Fund
Grants for community projects that support and promote volunteering in New Zealand. It also provides grants for the activities of regional volunteer centres and Volunteering New Zealand.

Fish and Game New Zealand

New Zealand Game Bird Habitat Trust
Funds the development and enhancement of habitats for the benefit of game birds and other wetland inhabitants.

Fonterra

Grassroots Fund
Supports group projects that will help bring local communities together and make it better, safer and more vibrant places to live.

Guardians of the Sea Charitable Trust

Guardians of the Sea
Grants to promote, provide and ensure the sustainable use, accessibility and availability of New Zealand’s fisheries and marine environment.

Heritage New Zealand

National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund
Provides financial incentives to encourage the conservation of privately owned heritage places recognised on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero.

IPENZ

IPENZ Rivers Group Public Project Grant 
Offers up to $3,000 to support public sector groups in works related to river management and restoration.

Kiwibank and Predator Free NZ Trust

Predator Free communities fund
Supports the purchase of subsidised trapping equipment for communities involved in backyard trapping.

Lottery Grants Board

Lottery Environment and Heritage Grant 
Funds are available for projects that will help protect, conserve or care for our natural, cultural and physical heritage, or allow us to better understand and access these resources.

Lottery Significant Projects Fund 
Provides grants to purchase, create or improve community assets that have regional or national significance. It provides grants for these capital expenditure projects with a total cost of $3 million or more.

Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment

Investment Funds
Multiple funds are available to support programmes which build high-performing science and innovation systems.

Tourism Infrastructure Fund
Provides up to $25 million annually to develop tourism-related infrastructure that supports regions facing pressure from tourism growth.

New Zealand Cycle Trail Enhancement and Extension Fund
Supports projects by eligible organisations that improve and extend Ngā Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Cultural and Heritage Funding
Provides funds for culture and history, including oral and built heritage.

Ministry for Primary Industries

Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures
Funds innovative projects that will create more value from the food and fibre industries.

Hill Country Erosion Fund
Funding to help protect erosion-prone hill country. It provides leadership and targeted support to regional councils and unitary authorities.

Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change Research Programme
Funding to help the agriculture and forestry sectors with challenges arising from climate change. Invests in targeted basic, applied and policy research.

Ministry for the Environment

Community Environment Fund
Provides funding so New Zealanders are empowered to take environmental action.

Plastics Innovation Fund
Supports projects that will minimise plastic waste and its harm on the environment. 

Environmental Legal Assistance Fund
Funding for not-for-profit groups advocating for matters of environmental public interest. Enables applicants to participate more effectively in issues affecting or regulating the environment.

Ministry of Youth Development

Youth Fund
Supports youth-led projects that help young people contribute positively to their community through leadership, mentoring or volunteering opportunities.

NZ Game Bird Habitat Trust

NZ Game Bird Habitat Trust
Funding to help create and enhance habitat for the benefit of game birds and other wildlife.

Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa - New Zealand Outdoor Access Commission

Enhancement Access Fund
Supports projects aimed at enhancing access to New Zealand's great outdoor

Pacific Development and Conservation Trust

Pacific Development and Conservation Trust
Each year, the Trust gives its income as grants for charitable activities and projects that fit with at least one of the Trust's objectives for the Pacific.

QEII National Trust

Stephenson Fund for Covenant Enhancement
The key aim of the fund is to support stewardship for QEII covenants by strengthening partnership with covenantors.

Save the Kiwi

Save the Kiwi
Funding for community-based kiwi conservation groups, universities and recognised research facilities.

Sustainable Business Network

Million Metres Streams Project
For groups committed to improving the water quality and biodiversity of their local waterway. For projects undertaking riparian planting and restoration.

Te Uru Rākau

One Billion Trees Fund
Supports individuals and groups to plant trees or manage land sustainably. Te Uru Rākau works in partnership with landowners and organisations who want to achieve the goal of planting one billion trees by 2028.

Trail Fund NZ

Trail Fund
Funds for building new mountain bike trails or the maintenance or upgrading of existing trails.

TREEmendous Education Programme

TREEmendous Education Programme
Teaches children about the importance of caring for the environment through the development of outdoor classrooms.

Trees that Count

Trees That Count
Groups who are registered with Trees That Count can apply for native trees from the Community Marketplace.

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) New Zealand

WWF-New Zealand Community Conservation and Education Fund
This fund supports communities and educational facilities to run projects that conserve and restore Aotearoa New Zealand's natural environments and the native species in these habitats.

Back to top