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Profits are distributed by Te Puna Tahua to a range of committees, established to distribute Lottery grants through applications from individuals and organisations. To find out more about the funding available, click on Available funding from the menu at the top of this page.

The remaining profits are distributed through the following statutory bodies:


Ngā Hua / Outcomes

The Lottery Grants Board aims to maximise the community benefits of lottery grants by focusing grant decision making on outcomes.

Outcomes are all the changes, benefits, learning and effects that happen – or start to happen – as a result of activities, projects or services in communities.

The Board’s key funding objectives and request criteria are designed to ensure that lottery grants will contribute towards its vision of New Zealanders building strong sustainable communities together.

Ngā kaupapa matua / Priorities

Lottery grant requests must align with one of the Board’s criteria:

  • enhance capability and increase capacity among applicants and the community
  • reduce community organisation funding gaps
  • have regards to the needs and aspirations of Māori
  • consider the needs of older people, Pacific people and other ethnic communities, women and youth, people with disabilities.

Grant requests should show how they will contribute to at least one of these key objectives:

  • support volunteers
  • enable people to help themselves
  • promote community wellbeing and address disadvantage
  • promote community participation, inclusion and identity.

Applicants should also show how they:

  • will focus on achieving their outcomes
  • will work together with others to achieve common community outcomes
  • are responsive to the communities they serve.

Ngā kaupapa kāore e tautokona ā-pūtea / What we don't fund

Lottery grants may not be used for any of the following:

  • repaying or servicing debt
  • refinancing loans, deposits or underwriting projects
  • commercial, political and/or religious objectives, including employment and/or business initiatives, commercial enterprises, political advocacy or projects which seek to change legislation
  • fundraisers and projects which seek to raise funds in or for a specific sector, or are involved with the training or employment of fundraisers
  • projects which seek to redistribute funding to others
  • overseas aid or disaster relief
  • alcohol and drug treatment, education and support services
  • medical expenses, operations, treatments or the purchase of major items of health equipment
  • capital investment or trust funds
  • projects or activities completed (retrospective funding) or items bought before the request.

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