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Funding Opportunities

In many cases the establishment and ongoing management of restoration projects require funding to reach the biodiversity goals. Money is needed to pay for trees, fencing, pest management tools, or a range of other costs to ensure the success of the project.

With this in mind Wairau Nature Network has collated a list of currently available sources of funding for restoration and conservation work within Marlborough. The table below outlines various funds available, their purpose and who can apply.

Please note: This is correct at the time of publishing but we don't take responsibility for changes made by other organisations.


NameOrganisationApplicantAmountDetailsWebsite
Bupa Foundation Community GrantsBupa FoundationLegal Entityup to $10,000The Bupa Foundation is a health promotion charity dedicated to helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. Our Foundation aims to respond to issues that are critical to the physical and mental health and wellbeing of people, both now and in the future. We invest in, and deliver programs in two key areas: - Healthy minds: Building mentally healthy and resilient communities; and - Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Addressing the link between planet health and human health.Visit site
Environment FundTop of the South FoundationLegal Entity$1000-$3000Available to registered charities and community groups operating for charitable purpose supporting conservation, protection of the environment and sustainability across the Top of the South.Visit site
Grassroots GrantsGrassroots TrustLegal Entity?Each month, Grassroots Trust Limited approves funding for many grant applications across sport, education and community sectors.Visit site
Hill Country Erosion FundMarlborough District Council and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)LandownerJointly funded by Marlborough District Council and MPI, the Hill Country Erosion programme provides advice and funding to landowners looking to treat eroding or erosion-prone land. Funding includes subsidies for fencing and native planting retired land as well as space planting of exotic trees.Visit site
Kamahi FoundationKamahi FoundationLandowner/Community Group?Our primary purpose is to provide funding support to landowners, iwi, and community groups to undertake ecological restoration and biodiversity management tasks on the ground.Visit site
Lion FoundationLion FoundationLegal Entity?Grants are distributed to a wide and diverse range of charitable purposes in the areas of health, education, sports and community (which includes arts, culture, heritage and environment). We aim to distribute and return approximately 90% of the funds generated by venues in your local community back to your local community. Visit site
Lottery Environment and CommunityLottery Grants BoardLegal Entity?This fund provides grants for plans, reports and one-off projects that will protect, conserve and promote New Zealand’s natural, cultural and physical heritage. The Committee will accept funding requests for the on-going costs of pest and predator controlVisit site
Macpac Fund for GoodMacpacLegal Entity?The Macpac Fund for Good is our way of giving back through cash or gear grants to non-profit organisations whose core focus is long-term positive impact in at least one of the following areas: The protection, regeneration or monitoring of native flora or fauna; orVisit site
Mahi mō te Taiao / Working for Nature GrantMarlborough District Council Any$138,000 poolApplications for the $138,000 environment fund will allow landowners, businesses, and community organisations to apply for funding to help restore and protect native habitats. This grant scheme encourages community-led participation and collaboration.Visit site
Marlborough District Council Community GrantsMarlborough District CouncilLegal Entity?Marlborough District Council accepts applications for funding from not-for-profit organisations providing services to the Marlborough community Visit site
Marlborough District Council Landowner Assistance FundMarlborough District CouncilLandownerCouncil has established this programme to provide encouragement and practical help to landowners interested in protecting significant natural areas on their properties. The programme includes both practical and financial help with work such as pest and weed control and fencing, and other support such as advice and information. Visit site
Marlborough LinesMarlborough LinesLegal Entity?Marlborough Lines' sponsorship mission is to Grow Marlborough Together. Are associated with the education and advancement of youth. Provide environmental benefits to Marlborough.Visit site
Mazda Foundation GrantsMazda FoundationAnyProvides assistance towards the maintenance and improvement of the natural environment.Visit site
McDonald'sMcDonald's NZUncertain?Every year we help set up and support sporting, educational, charitable and environmental programmes designed to help a wide range of people and communities.Visit site
Ngā Whenua Rāhui FundNgā Whenua RāhuiMāori-ownership?Supports the protection of indigenous biodiversity on Māori-owned land while honouring the rights guaranteed to landowners under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.Visit site
NZ Game Bird Habitat TrustNZ Game Bird Habitat TrustLandownerFunding for the development and enhancement of habitat for the benefit of game birds and other wetland inhabitants. Administered by Fish & Game NZ.Visit site
One Forty OneOne Forty OneLegal Entity$5000ON HOLD. Communities are flexible, and so is our grant program. If your community group is from an area where we operate, you can approach us directly for grants up to $5000 via the online application portal. We accept applications all year round and review applications as they are received. We will support initiatives that repair, care for and protect our natural environment. Examples of projects include environmental citizen science, environmental restoration and community rubbish clean-ups.Visit site
Pelorus TrustPelorus TrustLegal Entity?The Pelorus Trust is a charitable trust based in Lower Hutt which raises funds for charitable, philanthropic and sporting purposes through the operation of gaming machines. Visit site
Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII)Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII)LandownerQueen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII), which is an independent organisation that assists landowners who want to formally protect their land through a covenant on the property title. QEII has a 25-year history of working successfully with landowners to protect a variety of important sites and landscapes. When new protection is put in place, QEII contributes towards projects like replanting, trapping, and weed control. Reps are also able to assist you with applications for funding from outside sources. Visit site
Rata FoundationRata FoundationLegal Entity?Rata Foundation focuses funding in five key areas of Learn, Support, Connect, Participate and Sustain. You can find their funding priorities and criteria under each of these funding areas on their webpage.Visit site
Redwood TrustRedwood TrustLegal Entity?The Redwood Trust is a charitable trust that exists for the purpose of raising funds for the community. Visit site
Tindall FoundationTindall FoundationLegal Entity?Natural regeneration and restoration projects that protect and sustainably manage our environment, prioritising natives trees. Conservation projects that bring people together with a ‘large landscape’ approach, specifically ecosystems with special environmental and cultural values.Connecting people across landscapes will work in an integrated way to protect and restore ecosystems.Inspiring and educating the public and encouraging communities to participate in conservation and environmental restoration.Visit site
Trees that CountTrees that CountLandownerRequest support for your planting project by applying for native trees from our marketplace. You must log trees (minimum 500) that you have already planted to be eligible. Visit site
Westpac Water Care ProjectWestpacLegal entity - catchment groups$10,000Each year, six grants of up to $10,000 are available to catchment groups across the Upper North Island, Eastern North Island, Central New Zealand, Canterbury, Otago-South Canterbury, and Southland to support sustainable initiatives for rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands.Visit site
WWF - New Zealand Community Conservation FundWWFLegal Entity$15,000/yearAre community driven, involve local communities, bring people together for shared conservation initiatives , Engage and educate children/young people through action based projects, Encourage others to learn through experience and participation, Have relationships with hapū /iwi and promote mātauranga Māori and indigenous knowledge, Restore native habitats, especially those with threatened indigenous species, Make meaningful contributions to improving connections to local environment, Promote others to gain skills and are encouraged and/or supported to take future action for the environment as a result of participating. Do not fund individuals, national or regional umbrella groupsVisit site
Yealands Wines Marlborough Sustainability InitiativeYealands WinesLegal Entity$10,000ON HOLD. The Yealands Wines Marlborough Sustainability Initiative will make available $100,000 every year for local environmental projects. Projects can apply for individual grants of up to $10,000 per year. The Initiative specifically supports not-for-profit community efforts to improve freshwater quality, the preservation of sensitive natural areas, and/or biodiversity in the Marlborough districtVisit site