Funding your sustainability project
Learn about funds, grants, programmes and organisations that offer financial assistance to enable sustainable initiatives. There is support for a broad range of projects, from decarbonisation schemes to innovative solutions for waste minimisation. If you would like your fund or grant to be added to this page please contact Charlotte Whiter.
General Funds
Te Pūtea Whakamauru Para the Waste Minimisation Fund (WMF) is focused on accelerating New Zealand’s transition towards a low emissions and low waste circular economy. The focus is on initiatives that make the greatest impact. This is reflected in an increase in the minimum grant size.
If you are a council, you can apply for funding from the Waste Minimisation Fund for the development or implementation of a kerbside organic waste collection service. You can also apply for funding for organic waste processing facilities and resource recovery infrastructure.
The fund is always open for applications. More information can be found here.
This expanded scheme offers co-funding to a broad range of projects helping achieve New Zealand’s long-term climate targets through decarbonisation. For example, businesses buying and installing low emission, high efficiency electrical equipment used for industrial and commercial processes.
The government will co-fund up to 50% of a project’s incremental capitalised costs and projects must be fully operational by 31 December 2025.
More information can be found here.
This fund supports the adoption of low emission transport technology, innovation, and infrastructure to help decarbonise the transport sector. It aims to spur the uptake of low emission solutions and provide additional knowledge. Solutions must be demonstrably replicable.
The first eight funding rounds have closed, new funding rounds will be announced later in 2023.
More information can be found here.
This fund co-funds problem-solving initiatives in New Zealand’s food and fibre sectors. Initiatives can relate to innovation, market entry, governance, risk mitigation, budget, and more. Applications are by invitation only – contact sff.futures@mpi.govt.nz to discuss your initiative.
More information can be found here.
This PlasticsNZ subsidy is for businesses embracing circularity – the idea of designing products that go back into the supply chain when finished with, rather than into landfill. It covers systems, products and packaging. PlasticsNZ will subsidise up to 50% of consulting fees during your discovery and/or action planning phase(s) to help you achieve your 2025 plastic packaging targets.
More information can be found here.
The Ākina Foundation Impact Investment Readiness Programme is for New Zealand business with a realistic plan to make a social or environmental difference. The programme helps fund whatever professional support is needed to secure investment, including legal fees, marketing and communication services, and financial assistance.
Applications are currently closed, but more information can be found here.
NZGIF is an independent investor looking for scalable companies, technologies and products that are commercial-ready and offer low carbon benefits for New Zealand. NZGIF offers both direct investment, and co-investment in products and programmes that will attract new capital flows.
More information can be found here.
Regional councils and unitary authorities can apply for funding for the remediation of contaminated sites that pose a risk to human health and the environment. This can be on behalf of landowners.
The fund is open for applications and more information can be found here.
The fund is for not-for-profit groups advocating for matters of environmental public interest. Funding enables applicants to participate more effectively and efficiently in matters or issues affecting the environment or processes regulating the environment.
The fund is open for applications and more information can be found here.
The Strategic Science Investment Fund (SSIF) funds strategic investment in research programmes and scientific infrastructure that have long-term beneficial impact on New Zealand’s health, economy, environment and society.
The fund is open for applications and more information can be found here.
The Envirolink Scheme funds Crown research institutes, universities and private research organisations to provide regional councils with advice and research on environmental projects.
The fund is open for applications and more information can be found here.
The Catalyst Fund supports activities that initiate, develop and foster collaborations which take advantage of international science and innovation for New Zealand’s benefit.
The fund is open for applications and more information can be found here.
The Aotearoa Circle convened leaders from major banks, government representatives, and the agriculture, tourism and seafood sectors. Together, they engaged in a series of discussions on how we could enhance access to capital for climate change adaptation and nature restoration.
More information can be found here.
Regional Funding Schemes
The WMIF will support projects that promote or achieve waste minimisation, include educational projects that promote waste minimisation activity only, result in new waste minimisation activity (either by implementing new initiatives or a significant expansion in the scope or coverage of existing activities) and last for a funding timeframe of one to three years, after which the project objectives should have been achieved and, where appropriate, the initiative has become self-funding.
The next funding round is open from 1-31 August 2023.
More information can be found here.
The Canterbury Waste Joint Committee is responsible for advancing regional solid waste and hazardous waste minimisation in Canterbury. The Committee annually invites proposals for suitable waste minimisation project proposals within the Canterbury region.
More information can be found here.
The Canterbury Waste Joint Committee is responsible for advancing regional solid waste and hazardous waste minimisation in Canterbury. The Committee annually invites proposals for suitable waste minimisation project proposals within the Canterbury region.
More information can be found here.
The council allocates funding for small projects, community initiatives and commercial innovation and development that demonstrate or encourage waste minimisation activities. More information can be found here.
Annual funding applications open 1 November and close 5pm on the last Friday of February each year.
More information can be found here.
The Waste Levy Grants aim to increase the range, scale and number of waste minimisation activities on the Kāpiti Coast.
More information can be found here.
The fund supports projects, initiatives or programmes which demonstrate promotion or achievement of waste minimisation by promoting a circular economy for waste, and/or by supporting reuse, recycle and recover principles.
The next funding round closes on 31 July 2023.
More information can be found here.
Nelson City Council has a range of waste minimisation grants available to our community.
More information can be found here.
This fund is available to projects that promote or contribute to reducing, reusing, and recycling items, with an overall goal of reducing the amount of waste ending up in landfill. The next funding round is in March 2024.
More information can be found here.
The Canterbury Waste Joint Committee is responsible for advancing regional solid waste and hazardous waste minimisation in Canterbury. The Committee annually invites proposals for suitable waste minimisation project proposals within the Canterbury region.
More information can be found here.
Community Grants
Helps schools take on sustainability projects with the aim of tackling climate change and encouraging the next generation of environmentalists.
The 2023 has closed, but more information about this fund can be found here.
The Seelye Foundation is a charitable trust providing opportunities for advancement in the education sector and environmental sciences. The foundation welcomes grant applications from young people in the northern regions of NZ to further their careers in the design, construction, conservation, and environmental fields.
More information can be found here.