The Safer Communities Fund is a Crown fund for communities at risk from hate crimes and terrorism. It provides funding to upgrade and implement security arrangements.

Safer Communities Fund Outcomes

You will need to show how the proposed security upgrade or project will:

• Help reduce the threat and impact of future hate crimes and terrorism against your community.

• Create a safe and secure environment for your community so that you can practise your faith, congregate, and maintain community networks.

Safer Communities Fund Priorities

Requests to the Safer Communities Fund will need to show that the proposed security upgrade or project is:

• Suitable for the level of risk or threat that your community faces.
• An appropriate size and scale to meet the needs of your community.
• Fit-for-purpose.

Your organisation will need to be able to:

• Successfully develop and deliver the security arrangement and/or project.
• Show how you will manage and maintain the security arrangement and/or project in the future.

How to apply

To make an initial application, you must email SaferCommunities@dia.govt.nz with:

• the name of your organisation,
• the name and phone number of your key contact, and
• a brief description of your project (do not send us a full project plan).

An advisor will call you to discuss your application.

Key dates

• Applications open: Wednesday 22 April 2026
• Applications close: Wednesday 13 May 2026
• Notifications out to all applicants by Wednesday 10 June 2026*
• Payments released to all successful applicants in the week of 15 June 2026*

*these dates are subject to change.