Apply for Lottery Funding for Community Facilities (New Zealand)

Deadline: 29-Sep-2026

The Lottery Fund provides grants to support the planning, development and delivery of community facilities that provide public benefit and help build strong, sustainable communities across New Zealand. The fund distributes profits from New Zealand lotteries to support community-focused projects and activities. For community facilities, funding can assist with both early-stage planning and the delivery of permanent infrastructure that enables people to gather, participate and connect. Eligible projects can include feasibility studies, technical assessments, facility upgrades, redevelopments and new construction of community facilities such as community halls, marae, playgrounds and other permanent infrastructure. Purpose of the Community Facilities Funding The Lottery Fund aims to support facilities that provide a community benefit of a public nature.

Funding can help communities:

- Develop accessible places for people to gather. - Strengthen community participation. - Improve existing community facilities. - Develop new permanent community infrastructure. - Preserve and restore important community facilities. - Improve accessibility and usability. - Support strong and sustainable communities. - Create spaces that enable regular community activities. The proposed facility should provide benefits beyond the applicant’s ordinary statutory or operational responsibilities. What Types of Facilities Can Be Supported? The programme can support a wide range of community facilities and permanent infrastructure.

Examples include:

- Community halls. - Marae. - Playgrounds. - Other permanent community infrastructure. - Existing facilities requiring upgrades or redevelopment. - Heritage buildings requiring restoration or conservation. - Facilities requiring accessibility improvements. - New community facilities. The facility should enable people to participate in community life and provide regular, accessible opportunities for community use. Planning and Development Support Funding is available not only for construction but also for the planning and development stages of a community facility project.

Eligible planning activities can include:

- Feasibility studies. - Needs assessments. - Business cases. - Concept designs. - Engineering assessments. - Conservation plans. - Technical reports. - Professional advice required for planning. This allows applicants to investigate the viability, need, design and technical requirements of a proposed facility before progressing to delivery. Funding for Facility Delivery Lottery Fund support may also be available for the delivery of community facilities. Potentially eligible delivery activities include: - Construction. - Facility upgrades. - Redevelopment. - Restoration. - Accessibility improvements. - Acquisition of buildings. - Site works. - Essential fit-out. Applicants should clearly explain how each proposed cost contributes to delivering a community facility that provides public benefit. Community Benefit Requirement A clear public community benefit is central to the programme. Applicants should demonstrate that the proposed facility will provide meaningful benefits to the community and support regular community use.

A strong proposal should explain:

- Who will use the facility. - How often it will be used. - What community activities will take place there. - Which groups will benefit. - How the facility will improve participation and accessibility. - Why the project is needed. - How the facility will contribute to a strong and sustainable community. Regular and Accessible Community Use Community facilities supported through the fund should enable regular and accessible community use. Applicants should demonstrate that the facility will not primarily serve a narrow organisational purpose. The proposal should explain how the facility will be available for community participation and how barriers to access will be addressed where relevant. Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include:

- Not-for-profit organisations. - State schools. - State-integrated schools. - Local authorities. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that the proposed activity delivers a clear community benefit beyond their core statutory or operational responsibilities. The applicant should also provide evidence of community involvement, engagement and benefit. Community Involvement and Engagement Applications should demonstrate that the community has been involved in the development of the proposed facility project.

Evidence may include information about:

- Community consultation. - Community needs. - Existing or expected users. - Local support. - Partnerships. - Community engagement activities. - The expected benefits for different community groups. Demonstrating genuine community involvement can help establish that the facility responds to a real community need. Heritage Building Requirements Projects involving heritage buildings may have additional requirements. Applicants may need to provide an appropriate conservation plan demonstrating how heritage values will be protected while the proposed work is undertaken. Heritage-related projects should clearly explain the need for the work and how the facility will continue to provide community benefit. Marae Projects Projects involving marae are subject to additional requirements. Applicants should ensure that the relevant land use has appropriate legal recognition and provide the documentation required to demonstrate this. The application should also explain the community role of the marae and how the proposed project will contribute to community participation and benefit. What Can Planning Grants Cover? For planning and development activities, funding may cover: - Feasibility studies. - Needs assessments. - Business cases. - Concept designs. - Engineering assessments. - Conservation plans. - Technical reports. - Professional planning advice. These activities can help applicants establish the need, feasibility, technical