Call for Applications: Environmental Grant Programme (New Zealand)

Deadline: 05-Oct-2026

The Environmental Grant Programme supports individuals and groups working to protect, enhance, and restore the environment within Whakatū Nelson. The programme encourages community-led action to protect local ecosystems, improve ecological connectivity, control pests, and restore important coastal habitats. Funding of up to $20,000 per project in any one year is available, although applications requesting $5,000 or less are generally more likely to be successful, except for erosion mitigation projects.

About the Environmental Grant Programme

The Environmental Grant Programme is designed to encourage local people and groups to take practical action to protect and restore Nelson’s natural environment. The programme supports projects that contribute to healthier ecosystems and stronger community involvement in environmental protection.

Support may be provided through:

- Direct financial funding. - Professional ecological advice. - Trapping equipment. - Native plants. - A combination of appropriate forms of support. What Does the Grant Support? The programme supports projects that protect, enhance, or restore the health of the local environment. Priority may be given to projects involving: - Community-led pest control. - Restoration of ecological connectivity. - Protection and restoration of local ecosystems. - Environmental projects across rural areas. - Environmental restoration in peri-urban areas. - Environmental initiatives in urban areas. - Rehabilitation of coastal ecosystems. - Restoration of saltmarshes. - Restoration of estuaries. - Restoration of coastal dunes. - Erosion mitigation projects. Projects should demonstrate a clear environmental benefit and align with the priorities of Nelson City Council. Community-Led Pest Control Community-led pest control is one of the programme’s additional priorities. Projects can help communities work together to manage environmental pests and protect native ecosystems. Applicants should demonstrate how pest control activities will contribute to the protection or restoration of local biodiversity and environmental health. Ecological Connectivity The programme encourages projects that restore ecological connections between natural areas. Projects may focus on improving ecological connectivity across: - Rural areas. - Peri-urban areas. - Urban environments. Improving ecological connections can help strengthen local ecosystems and support the movement and survival of native species. Coastal Ecosystem Restoration The programme places particular emphasis on restoring coastal ecosystems. Eligible environmental projects may involve the rehabilitation of: - Saltmarshes. - Estuaries. - Coastal dunes. - Other important coastal habitats. Applicants should explain the ecological importance of the proposed restoration area and how the project will improve the health and resilience of the local environment. Projects on Private Properties Environmental projects located on private land are also encouraged where they can demonstrate significant landowner investment. Priority may be given to projects involving private properties larger than 1 hectare, particularly where landowners are making a meaningful contribution to the environmental work. Applicants should clearly demonstrate the environmental value of the project and the level of landowner commitment. Grant Amount Funding of up to $20,000 per project in any one year is available. However, applications requesting $5,000 or less are more likely to be successful in most cases. This preference does not apply in the same way to erosion mitigation projects, where larger funding requests may be considered based on the scale and requirements of the work. Who Can Apply? The programme supports eligible individuals and groups undertaking environmental projects within the Nelson City Council area.

Applicants must ensure that:

- The project area is located within the Nelson City Council boundaries. - The project aligns with Council environmental priorities. - The applicant has no outstanding obligations to the Council. - Appropriate insurance is in place where required. - The applicant is not a Council Controlled Organisation. - The application does not seek funding for a substantially similar outcome already supported through another existing grant. What Is a Community Project? For the purposes of the programme, community projects are defined as projects involving: - Three or more landowners; and/or - Public land. Projects involving multiple landowners can demonstrate broader community participation and environmental impact.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should ensure that both the organisation or applicant and the proposed project meet the programme’s requirements.

Key requirements include:

- The project must be within the Nelson City Council boundaries. - The project should align with Council priorities. - The applicant must have no outstanding obligations to the Council. - Appropriate insurance must be held where applicable. - The applicant must not be a Council Controlled Organisation. - The proposed outcome must not substantially duplicate an existing grant-funded outcome. How Can Funding Be Provided? Support under the programme is not limited to direct financial assistance. Depending on the project, support may include: - Direct project funding. - Professional ecological advice. - Pest-trapping equipment. - Native plants. - Other appropriate environmental support. Applicants should identify the type of assistance needed and demonstrate how it will contribute to the project’s environmental outcomes. How to Prepare a Strong Application A strong application should clearly explain the environmental problem being addressed and the practical actions that will be undertaken.

Applicants should describe:

- The location of the project. - The environmental issue or opportunity. - The proposed restoration or protection activities. - The ecological benefits expected. - The number of people or lando