Te Puna Tahua Lottery Grants Board is the largest single community grant funder in New Zealand. It plays a significant role in supporting community wellbeing and resilience through building strong, sustainable communities.

In 2021 Te Puna Tahua Lottery Grants Board (Board) initiated a programme of work, known as 'Kia Tipu, He Tipua', to evolve the lottery grants system to one that is more strategic, responsive, inclusive and recognises Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This was the first time an end-to-end review had been done since the Board was established over 35 years ago; but we know that communities and their needs have changed significantly since then. Through this work, the Board approved the evolution of the system to one that is strategy led, data driven and learns.

The Board has outlined its strategic vision in its draft Statement of Intent 2025-2029, which:

• is a vision document that sets out the intentions, goals the Board aims to achieve, how they plan to achieve it, and the principles or values guiding their actions
• is a transparent way to set out and communicate the Board's vision and aspiration over the next 4 years in a way that invites feedback from stakeholders
• contains strategies that guides the lottery grants system towards achieving the impacts the Board wants to achieve
• enables an outcomes approach to focus on the difference the funding is making for communities, hapū and iwi.

The Board is committed to building strong, sustainable communities, and to support their vision the Board has agreed on 3 long-term outcomes – Social Cohesion, Community Wellbeing, and Tino Rangatiratanga.

Since its establishment the Board has distributed over $5.5 billion to projects that support communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. Based on current forecasts, the Board will be directing further investment of up to $1.2 billion of lottery profits towards community, hapū, and iwi aspirations, in alignment with Board's vision and strategic outcomes, during the 4-year period of the Statement of Intent (SOI).

Central to its mission is a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ensuring policies are inclusive of Māori principles and respecting Māori worldviews.

Throughout the second half of 2024, the Board engaged with partners and key stakeholders to strengthen and improve its SOI with a view to finalising it for the start of the next financial year on 1 July 2025. By gathering feedback and fostering collaboration, the Board can ensure it is making meaningful differences where it matters most and ultimately maximises benefits for New Zealand communities, hapū and iwi.

To download, or view, the draft SOI, visit Tauākī Whakamaunga atu Statement of Intent (PDF 5.32MB).

For general enquiries about the SOI or the engagement process please contact LGBSOIfeedback@dia.govt.nz.

For media enquiries please contact media support at media@dia.govt.nz.