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Environmental funding for community groups, iwi and hapū, businesses, and local government

The Ministry for the Environment’s Projects and Partnerships team administers a number of funds that are available to community groups, iwi and hapū, businesses and local government.

The main funds (listed below) give New Zealanders the opportunity to take part in practical action that provides local and national solutions to global environmental problems.

  • Sustainable Management Fund
  • Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund
  • Environment Centre Fund
  • Aquaculture Planning Fund
  • Environmental Legal Assistance Fund.

The success of your funding application will be determined by your ability to meet all funding criteria and the amount of funding available.

For more information, including important dates and timelines for submitting applications, please see our website or contact the Ministry’s Projects and Partnerships team.

Sustainable Management Fund (SMF)

The SMF supports projects that produce long-term environmental benefits. Projects suitable for SMF funding should have strong practical and tangible results. There is one funding round each year. Applicants can request a maximum of $200,000 per year for up to three years.

What are some examples of good SMF projects?

SchoolGen

Genesis Energy is partnering with schools to install solar panels for electricity generation. The project allows schools to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs while providing opportunities for students to learn about renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change.

Getting Around Wellington

The Sustainability Trust and Wellington City Council are working with community groups to encourage households to reduce vehicle use for short trips. They are producing travel planning resource packs that contain suggestions on practical actions to address climate change.

Who can apply?

The SMF is available to community groups, iwi and hapū, businesses and local government. The Ministry favours applications that will clearly demonstrate effective partnerships across a variety of people and organisations.

How can my organisation get funding?

To apply for the SMF, you need to read the guide for applicants, complete an online eligibility checklist and an application form. Applications are assessed by a panel against the SMF’s criteria and the Ministry’s priorities. Successful applicants are asked to complete a detailed project plan with help from a Ministry adviser. Suitable project plans are awarded funding agreements for projects starting on 1 July.

The eligibility checklist, application form and a comprehensive guide for applicants are available from our website or by contacting the Projects and Partnerships team.

Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund (CSRF)

The CSRF helps regional councils and unitary authorities to investigate and clean up contaminated land. To meet the Fund’s criteria, sites must pose, now or in the future, a potential risk to the environment or human health. There are two CSRF funding rounds each year; applications close at the end of April and October.

Who can apply?

The CSRF is available to regional councils and unitary authorities. Councils and authorities can apply for the Fund on behalf of individuals.

How can my organisation get funding?

You will need to complete an application form. A Ministry adviser will work with the council to gain an evaluation of the level of risk the site poses to the environment and human health. Applications are then assessed by a panel based on the applicants’ eligibility and the Fund’s criteria. Successful applicants are granted funding subject to availability.

Environment Centre Fund

The Environment Centre Fund helps with the operating costs of Environment Centres nationwide. The Centres inform, advise and engage with the community about issues relating to New Zealand’s environment.

How can my organisation get funding?

The next funding round for Environment Centre funding will be in 2010. Environment Centres are granted funding for three years to ensure financial stability. More information on how to apply for funding will be available closer to 2010. For more information about Environment Centres, including details of Environment Centres nationwide, please see our website or contact the Projects and Partnerships team.

Aquaculture Planning Fund

The Aquaculture Planning Fund financially assists regional councils and unitary authorities to gather information, consult on and plan sustainable aquaculture projects. The government has allocated $2 million to be granted by 2012. There are two funding rounds each year.

Who can apply?

The Fund is available to regional councils and territorial authorities. Before funding is granted, the financial capability of the region to fund the work itself will be considered.

How can my organisation get funding?

You will need to complete an application form that will be assessed by a cross-government panel. Eligible applications will be assessed against the Fund’s criteria. Applications with strong partnerships and a high level of commitment from the applicant will be favoured.

Applications that score highly will be granted funding subject to funding being available.

If you would like to be added to the Aquaculture Planning Fund contact list or would like further criteria and process information, please contact the Projects and Partnerships team.

Environmental Legal Assistance (ELA) Fund

The Fund provides not-for-profit groups with financial assistance to participate in resource management cases at the Environment Court, higher courts, and at Boards of Inquiry constituted under the ‘Call in’ provisions of section 141B.1(a) of the Resource Management Act 1991.

The Fund reimburses the costs of legal counsel and expert witnesses including costs for preparation, mediation, and presentation of a groups’ case at the hearing.

Who can apply?

Applications are welcomed from not-for-profit community, iwi and hapū groups. The Fund is not available to individuals.

How can my organisation get funding?

To be considered for funding, you need to read the applicants’ guide and complete an application form, which are available from the Ministry’s website. 

An independent advisory panel meets approximately every five weeks to assess applications and make its recommendations to the Chief Executive’s Office at the Ministry for the Environment. Applications are assessed against the criteria detailed in the Guide for Applicants.

To check your eligibility for the Fund and assistance when completing your application form contact the ELA Fund team at elafund@mfe.govt.nz or phone (03) 365 9267.

Contact details

To find out more about our funds, please visit our website at www.mfe.govt.nz/withyou/funding/index.html

For help, please contact:

Projects and Partnerships Team
Ministry for the Environment
PO Box 10-362
Wellington
New Zealand
Ph: (04) 439 7400
Fax: (04) 430 7400

Email: funds@mfe.govt.nz