Deadline: 31-Jan-2026
The Dunedin City Council is inviting applications for its Dunedin Heritage Fund to support the conservation and continued use of the City’s key heritage places.
The focus areas include assisting owners or occupiers of historic places in Dunedin to manage, maintain, or preserve their properties, with preference for those listed or eligible for listing on the New Zealand Heritage List or the Dunedin City District Plan.
The Fund supports essential repairs, restoration, regulatory upgrades, material replacements, conservation plans and emergency works that protect heritage integrity. Funding is prioritised based on the site’s historic significance, the risks it faces, community and reuse benefits, project urgency, visibility and the level of owner investment.
Through this initiative, grants are provided to owners and occupiers of historic places in Dunedin to encourage heritage conservation efforts. Assistance is generally offered as a percentage of work to a specific dollar value or to cover specific components of work.
Applicants are encouraged to contribute significantly to their projects and explore additional funding sources such as the Lottery Grants Board or the Community Trust of Otago. Preference may be given to those working under a Conservation Plan for their property.
Conditions may be imposed as part of the grant approval process, including accepting technical advice from the Council’s City Development Team or Heritage New Zealand, preparing a conservation plan or allowing the use of images and information related to the funded works for promotional purposes.
The Committee may also require steps toward scheduling or listing the historic place in the District Plan, executing a heritage covenant or covering reasonable legal costs associated with these measures.
Grants are typically disbursed upon project completion, although progress payments may be approved in exceptional circumstances. All applications are reviewed based on available funds, and the Committee’s decisions are made at its sole discretion.
Applications must be submitted to the Dunedin Heritage Fund, Dunedin City Council and will be acknowledged within ten working days. Successful applicants are notified in writing within ten working days of the Committee’s decision and completed work is inspected before final payment. Grants must be claimed within two years of approval, or they will lapse.
Retrospective applications for completed or ongoing work are ineligible, and while multiple applications for the same property are allowed, prior assistance may influence funding decisions. The overall goal of the Fund is to ensure the protection, restoration, and re-use of Dunedin’s significant heritage buildings for future generations.
For more information, visit Dunedin City Council.
