Submit Applications for Community Events Grant (New Zealand)

Deadline: 21-Sep-2026

The New Plymouth District Council is inviting applications for the Community Events Grant, which supports grassroots not-for-profit organisations delivering free or low-cost public events across the New Plymouth District. The grant is designed to strengthen community participation, local connections, and the vibrancy of neighbourhoods. It also aims to encourage the development of new annual events that could eventually become major attractions for the district. Funding can support eligible event costs such as venue hire, promotion, equipment hire, entertainment, and road closures. Events must be free to attend or charge an admission fee of $5 or less and should be inclusive and accessible to members of the wider community.

About the Community Events Grant

The Community Events Grant recognizes the contribution of grassroots events to the social and cultural life of the New Plymouth District.

The program aims to:

- Support grassroots community events. - Increase community participation. - Strengthen connections between local communities and neighbourhoods. - Encourage participation from diverse groups. - Support the development of new annual events. - Help establish events with the potential to become major district attractions. - Contribute to the overall vibrancy and connectedness of the New Plymouth District. The grant is focused on events that provide a genuine public and community benefit. What Types of Events Are Supported? Supported events should be community-focused and accessible to the public.

Events must:

- Take place within the New Plymouth District. - Be free or low-cost, with admission of no more than $5. - Promote inclusivity and accessibility. - Encourage participation across local groups and neighbourhoods. - Contribute to community vibrancy and connectedness. The grant can support both established community events and new annual events that have potential for long-term development. Supporting New Annual Events One of the aims of the Community Events Grant is to encourage the establishment of new annual events. The Council is particularly interested in events that have the potential to grow into major attractions for the district while continuing to provide meaningful community benefits. Applicants proposing new events should therefore explain how their event could contribute to the district over the longer term. Community Participation and Inclusion Community participation is an important element of the grant. Events should be designed to encourage participation across diverse local groups and neighbourhoods rather than being restricted to a particular community or interest group. The events should also focus on inclusivity and accessibility, helping ensure that members of the wider community can participate. What Can the Grant Fund? Funding can be used for a range of eligible event-related costs.

Examples include:

- Venue hire - Event promotion - Equipment hire - Sound equipment - Lighting - Toilet facilities - Entertainers’ fees - Road closure costs Applicants should ensure that requested costs fall within the eligible categories before including them in their application. Free and Low-Cost Admission Requirement Events supported through the grant must be accessible to the public through free or low-cost admission. The admission fee must be $5 or less. This requirement ensures that supported events remain affordable and accessible to community members. Who Can Apply? Only not-for-profit organisations are eligible to apply. The organisation must also be delivering an event that takes place within the New Plymouth District. Applicants should ensure that both the organisation and proposed event meet the grant’s eligibility requirements. Who and What Is Not Eligible? The grant does not support every type of event.

Ineligible activities and costs include:

- Events that are exclusive to particular groups. - Events that are primarily fundraising-focused. - Events that qualify for Major Events Funding through Venture Taranaki. - Event manager fees. - Costs associated with hiring Council-owned or managed venues. Applicants should carefully review their event structure and proposed budget to avoid including ineligible activities or expenses. Exclusive Events Are Not Eligible The grant is intended to support events that contribute to broad community participation. Events that are exclusive to particular groups are therefore not eligible. Applicants should demonstrate how their event will encourage participation across diverse members of the local community. Fundraising Events Are Not Eligible The Community Events Grant does not fund events that are primarily focused on fundraising. The program is intended to support community participation, vibrancy, connection, and accessible public events rather than fundraising activities. Major Events Funding Exclusion Events that qualify for Major Events Funding through Venture Taranaki are not eligible for the Community Events Grant. Applicants should therefore determine whether their proposed event falls within the scope of another Council-supported major events funding mechanism before applying. Ineligible Event Management Fees Event manager fees cannot be funded through the grant. Applicants should take this restriction into account when developing their event budget and identifying the costs for which grant support is being requested. Council-Owned Venue Costs Costs to hire Council-owned or managed venues are also ineligible. Although venue hire can generally be an eligible event cost, applicants should distinguish between eligible venue expenses and the specific exclusion relating to Council-owned or managed venues. Application Requirements Applicants must provide supporting information as part of their application.

Required documentation includes:

- An event plan. - A health and safety plan as part of the event plan. - Sponsorship agreements. - Quotes for venue or equipment hire. Applicants should ensure that these