TINZT 2026 Grant Programme (New Zealand)

Deadline: 16-Oct-26

The Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust (TINZT) is inviting applications for its 2026 Grant Programme, which supports projects that strengthen tourism sustainability, business capability, and climate change adaptation across New Zealand’s tourism industry. The programme is designed to promote the long-term growth and resilience of the country’s tourism sector by funding initiatives that align with the Trust’s charitable purposes and build on previous investments in the industry. Funding in 2026 focuses on three key areas: advancing the Tourism Sustainability Commitment through accessible education and resources, strengthening business capability, and supporting climate change adaptation projects that help communities respond to environmental challenges.

About the TINZT Grant Programme 2026

The TINZT Grant Programme aims to support initiatives that contribute to a stronger, more sustainable, and climate-resilient tourism industry in New Zealand. The programme builds on previous investments by the Trust and focuses funding on projects that can deliver practical benefits for tourism operators, businesses, and communities. The 2026 programme has three main funding priorities. Tourism Sustainability Commitment One funding priority is advancing the Tourism Sustainability Commitment (TSC). Projects in this area should focus on making educational tools and resources more accessible to tourism operators. The aim is to help tourism businesses understand and adopt sustainable practices through practical information, education, and resources that can be used across the industry. Building Business Capability The programme also supports projects designed to strengthen business capability within New Zealand’s tourism sector. Relevant initiatives may provide training in areas such as: - Sustainable business practices. - Financial management. - Marketing. - Customer service. Building these capabilities can help tourism businesses improve their operations while developing more sustainable and resilient business models. Climate Change Adaptation Climate change adaptation is the third major focus of the 2026 grant programme. Funding can support projects that help communities become more resilient to environmental challenges and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Projects should demonstrate how their activities can contribute to stronger community resilience within the tourism sector. Who Can Apply? The TINZT Grant Programme is open to a broad range of applicants when applications are open.

Eligible applicants may include:

- Individuals. - Associations. - Companies. - Educational institutions. - Other organisations. Applicants can apply as long as their proposed initiative meets one or more of the Trust’s aims. The eligibility of a specific project should be assessed against the programme’s requirements before submitting an application. What Types of Projects Are Supported? Projects should contribute to at least one of the programme’s three key focus areas.

Potential areas of support include:

- Tourism sustainability education. - Development of accessible sustainability tools and resources. - Training in sustainable business practices. - Financial management training. - Marketing and customer service training. - Climate change adaptation initiatives. - Community resilience projects. - Industry-wide tourism sustainability initiatives. Projects should demonstrate a clear connection to the Trust’s charitable purposes and relevant programme aims. How Much Funding Is Available? The amount available depends on the type and scope of the project. Industry-wide initiatives may receive up to: - $50,000 + GST per project Private enterprise projects may receive up to: - $10,000 + GST per project Applicants should ensure that their requested funding is appropriate to the proposed initiative and aligned with the relevant funding category. Collaboration With Key Partners The TINZT encourages collaboration with organisations that can increase the reach and effectiveness of funded projects.

In particular, collaborations with:

- Local government. - Iwi. - Department of Conservation. are encouraged. Partnerships can help initiatives reach more tourism operators and communities while strengthening coordination between tourism, conservation, local government, and other relevant stakeholders. Who Is the Programme Designed to Support? The programme is intended to contribute to the long-term sustainability and capability of New Zealand’s tourism industry. The three funding priorities address different needs across the sector: - Sustainability education can help operators adopt more sustainable practices. - Business capability initiatives can strengthen skills needed to operate successful tourism businesses. - Climate adaptation projects can help communities prepare for environmental challenges. Together, these priorities support a tourism industry that is better equipped to respond to economic, environmental, and operational challenges. How to Prepare a Strong TINZT Grant Application Applicants should ensure that their proposed initiative clearly demonstrates how it contributes to one or more of the Trust’s aims.

A strong application should explain:

- The problem or opportunity being addressed. - The project’s connection to tourism sustainability, business capability, or climate adaptation. - The activities that will be undertaken. - The expected benefits for tourism operators, businesses, or communities. - How the project contributes to the Trust’s charitable purposes. - The amount of funding required. - How partnerships or collaborations could strengthen the project, where applicable. Applicants should also clearly identify whether the initiative is an industry-wide project or a private enterprise project when considering the applicable funding limit. Important Considerations for Applicants Before applying, prospective applicants should make sure that their initiative meets at least one of the programme’s