communitymatters.govt.nz

Helping New Zealand build strong communities

Lottery Environment and Heritage Te Tahua Taiao Me Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho

Purpose / Kaupapa

Lottery Environment and Heritage makes grants to not-for-profit organisations to foster the conservation, preservation and promotion of New Zealand’s natural, physical and cultural heritage.

Mission / Whakatakanga

The conservation, preservation and promotion of New Zealand’s natural, physical and cultural heritage.

Relationship with Māori

Lottery Environment and Heritage recognises the aspirations and needs of Māori, and their protocols.

E whakatau ana te Tahua Taiao Me Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho i ngā hiahia me ngā tūmanako o te Māori me o rātou kawa.

What we fund

Projects that may be funded fit into three categories

  • Natural heritage projects- for projects which seek to promote, protect and preserve New Zealand’s natural heritage
  • Physical heritage projects - for the conservation and preservation of places, structures and large built objects associated with the physical heritage of New Zealand
  • Cultural heritage projects - for projects which conserve and preserve New Zealand’s cultural heritage

Funding is only available for one-off projects. A one-off project can include

  • a single stage of a larger, ongoing project
  • a single, stand-alone project

Natural heritage projects

A grant may be given towards

  • the purchase of project materials
  • applied research with a clear community benefit
  • ecological restoration projects in various habitats including, but not limited to: wetlands, forests, riparian margins, freshwater, marine, alpine and grassland habitats
  • pest and predator management programmes, including plans, consents and signage costs and associated transport costs, such as helicopter drops
  • the preparation of project specific plans, such as ecological restoration plans (see the Natural Heritage Projects section for the necessary requirements) , management plans and feasibility studies (see the Cultural Heritage Projects section for the necessary requirements)
  • monitoring
  • project-related salaries, including project management
  • the establishment of native plant nurseries. These must form part of a wider ecological restoration project, which will be assessed as above. The nursery must produce locally eco-sourced plants and have suitably qualified employees
  • non-administrative, project-related costs associated with volunteers
  • breeding programmes, including native animal release programmes and captive programmes
  • education programmes and materials such as publications and education kits (there are restrictions on educational funding).  Please read What we do not fund
  • awareness-raising and interpretation materials including but not limited to: brochures, markers, information panels, project-related website development (subject to assurance that the applicant has the financial ability and expertise to continue to maintain the website) and research, writing and publication projects (see the Cultural Heritage Projects section for the necessary requirements)
  • walkways, bridges and boardwalks when these meet one of the four priority areas, such as the protection or promotion of issues affecting New Zealand’s native flora and fauna
  • research and graphic design (but excluding concept and structural design) of interpretive material including brochures and panels, project-related website development, the construction of interpretive panels and printing of brochures or booklets.

Physical heritage projects

Applications for buildings, structures and objects must relate solely to the restoration and conservation of the structure and heritage material. This can include installing fire protection systems and earthquake strengthening.

A grant may be given towards

  • conservation or restoration work as detailed in a conservation plan, or a conservation or condition report
  • the preparation of conservation plans, conservation reports, condition reports and maintenance plans
  • the preparation of detailed specifications for repair or restoration work
  • other essential reports to inform a heritage restoration project such as engineering reports and fire reports

Wāhi tapu projects

Wāhi tapu projects which seek to identify and conserve wāhi tapu sites may be given a grant towards

  • salary costs of researchers for one-off projects
  • domestic travel costs
  • equipment, including computers and software, tape recorders and other transcribing equipment
  • publications
  • conservation work

Cultural heritage projects

A grant may be given towards

  • capital works – the development, redevelopment or upgrade of museums, art galleries or archive facilities, including appropriate storage systems, environmental control systems and display facilities
  • feasibility studies for capital works projects
  • conservation of moveable cultural property (for instance, paintings in accordance with the International Council on Monuments and Sites Charter - ICOMOS)
  • historical research and writing
  • historical publications
  • salary costs and equipment for oral history projects
  • heritage trails
  • interpretive panels
  • research and graphic design (but excluding concept and structural design) of interpretive material including brochures and panels, project-related website development, the construction of interpretive panels and printing of brochures or booklets
  • national milestone reunion celebrations
  • archiving, including school based archive projects
  • digitisation
  • developing (fitting out) education centres for young people within existing museums
  • feasibility studies for capital works projects
  • providing exhibition related material which enhances understanding of the collection, including education material such as kits, brochure and information panels (excluding design fees, salaries or curatorial expenses)
  • collection management systems
  • the construction of memorials, depending on the historic significance of the event or person being remembered

What we do not fund

In addition to those items, services and projects not funded by any Lottery committee, Lottery Environment and Heritage does not fund

  • administration costs (ongoing organisational running costs)
  • applications for the publication of a historical publication without a copy of the completed manuscript
  • concept design fees, salaries or curatorial expenses for the production of exhibition related material
  • environmental sustainability projects which do not  align with the four natural heritage funding priorities
  • general maintenance that is not part of larger restoration work
  • historic gardens
  • individuals
  • insurance costs
  • landscaping or beautification projects which have no conservation or educational value
  • projects for solely recreational purposes
  • projects which have been completed. The application closing date is the cut-off point for retrospective funding
  • projects undertaken as part of a university qualification
  • purchase of land or buildings except where it can be demonstrated that the project is of exceptional conservation or historic merit
  • pure research
  • recycling or anti-litter schemes
  • restoration of places owned privately or commercially
  • interior restoration work unless the interior has significant heritage value in its own right, and is at risk
  • restoration projects without a satisfactory conservation plan or report
  • reunion celebrations which are not for national and milestone reunions
  • salaries for existing or on-going positions
  • services considered to be the sole responsibility of local authorities, central government or other funders
  • the building of historic replicas
  • the cost of maintenance or replacement of heritage trail signs or information panels
  • the installation of amenities such as kitchens, toilets, etc
  • the purchase of office equipment
  • projects seeking to promote commercial, political, or religious objectives, including political advocacy projects, employment and/or business initiatives and commercial enterprises

Generally, we do not fund

  • education kits (the preparation of education kits developed specifically for the school curriculum and for use primarily in schools, and, in particular, to be sold to schools)
  • research institutes (applications from research institutes will be given a very low priority, and are unlikely to gain funding approval)
  • the purchase of works of art and/or artefacts for museums, art galleries or other institutions, except where the object is of national significance and must be purchased to ensure the object remains in or returns to New Zealand

Funding priorities

Natural heritage projects

Priority is given to projects which:

  • conserve New Zealand’s native flora and fauna
  • conserve significant or threatened habitats and eco-systems
  • conserve rare, endangered or threatened species in their natural habitat
  • improve public education and awareness of issues affecting our native flora and fauna

On private land priority is given to projects:

  • where the natural heritage value of the land is protected by a covenant/kawenata on the land title (this ensures that the natural heritage value of the land will be protected even if the land is sold)
  • which provide public access, where appropriate

Grant decisions take into account:

  • the local, regional and national significance of the project
  • the degree to which the project can be sustained over time, and its outcomes maintained
  • the level of community involvement and support

The construction of environment, education or visitor centres is given a low priority.

Physical heritage projects

Priority is given to places:

  • registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, and
  • registered by the local territorial authority, or
  • identified by the community as having significant heritage value, and
  • that have public access. 

Cultural heritage projects

Priority is given to projects which:

  • protect collections at risk
  • make collections more available to the community
  • enhance the learning experience and involvement of young people
  • conserve moveable cultural property

Also refer to the guidance notes for further information about the three categories.

How much to apply for

There is no limit to the amount that your organisation can apply for.  However, because of pressure on funds, Lottery Environment and Heritage is rarely able to provide funding to the level requested and is more likely to consider only a contribution towards the project.

Applicants are encouraged to seek assistance from other funding bodies.

Regardless of the amount applied for, grants over $10,000 can only be made to groups that have legal status.

Grants to groups without legal status are limited to a total from all Lottery Grants Board distribution committees of no more than $10,000 to any group in any financial year. 

The Lottery Grants Board financial year is 1 July – 30 June.

The grant amount depends on the size and significance of the project.  The maximum grant given towards

  • conservation plans is $20,000
  • conservation reports is $5000
  • maintenance plans is $5000
  • condition reports is $2000
  • structural engineering reports is $10,000
  • fire reports is $2000
  • feasibility studies is $20,000
  • ecological restoration plans is $20,000

Feasibility studies

A detailed feasibility study (or equivalent documentation or reports) should be carried out whenever a new building or major development of an existing building is planned.

Depending on the size and significance of the project, a grant of up to $20,000 may be given towards the cost of a feasibility study.

A grant for a feasibility study does not imply guaranteed funding for the actual project.

Historical research and publication projects

A grant of up to $5000 may be given towards research and writing costs of a historical/heritage publication, provided the project is undertaken by a community-based organisation and is of local, regional or national significance.

A separate grant of up to $5000 may be given to assist with the publication of completed manuscripts. A grant for the research and writing of a manuscript does not guarantee funding for publishing the manuscript.

Applicants cannot apply for both research and writing costs and publication costs at the same time.

Heritage trails

Grants of up to $5000 may be made towards each of the following:

  • purchasing and installing heritage trail signs
  • research, preparation and design of heritage trail brochures and signs, printing heritage trail brochures and promotional material

Research costs may also be considered.

Oral histories

The maximum grant for an oral history project is $10,000, unless the Committee considers the project to be of national significance. In this case an upper limit of $15,000 will apply.

Reunion celebrations

Lottery Environment and Heritage grants are only available for national organisation milestone reunions, e.g. 50th, 75th, 100th etc

Grants for milestone reunions of local or regional significance are considered by Lottery Community

Grants are made to help with the cost of:

  • hiring equipment, such as marquees - up to $5000
  • recording the event using either oral history techniques or video - up to $2000.

Grants may also be made for the preparation and publication of reunion books (see historical research and publications projects).

School-based archive projects

A grant of up to $5000 may be given towards the purchase of storage shelving and fittings, but not the cost of constructing the archive.

Making an application