Aotea / Great Barrier Local and Capital Grant (New Zealand)

Deadline: 03-Mar-23

The Auckland Council is seeking applications for the Aotea / Great Barrier Local and Capital Grant Program.

Funding Priorities

• They welcome and support grant applications that align with the local board plan priorities:
  • They have marine protection and conservation around their coastline.
  • Preservation of their island identity.
  • Their community groups are resilient.
  • Their local economy is strong, stable and sustainable.
  • They have sustainable tourism.
  • Their environment is protected and enhanced.
  • They reduce, reuse and recycle to achieve zero waste.
  • Their Dark Sky Sanctuary is protected and maintained.
  • They have safe roads and walkways.
  • Smarter housing opportunities will be explored.
  • Their island infrastructure is future-proofed.
• Higher Priority for Eligibility
  • Their residents’ wellbeing is protected and enhanced.
  • Projects or activities that have zero-waste messages and practices.
  • Projects or activities that empower their community to enhance their resilience to emergencies and the impact of climate change.
  • Activites that support mana whenua to prosper.
  • Activities that protect and enhance their residents’ wellbeing.
• Lower Priority for Eligibility
  • They will also consider applications for other services, projects and initiatives, however they may identified as lower priorities:
    • Activities which are inconsistent with the Aotea Great Barrier Local Board Plan outcomes and grant programme.
    • Applications from:
      • groups not based on Great Barrier Island unless the proposal has a significant and/or direct benefit to the island community
      • groups who have a considerable surplus which has not been identified for a particular use, therefore could be used as a contribution towards the project.

Funding Information

• ​The grant value is up to $50,000 for the capital round and $25,000 for the local grant round.

Outcome

The grants programme will support the following outcomes:

• the island is resilient.

Types of Projects Funded by the Grant

• Arts
• Community
• Environment
• Events
• Heritage
• Sports and recreation

What they don’t Fund?

• Projects that community grants don’t fund
  • Community grants are not available for:
    • debt servicing or repayment
    • legal or medical expenses
    • activities that promote religious ministry or political purposes
    • public services that are the responsibility of central government, e.g. core education, health
    • physical works (e.g. improvements to community buildings) before the appropriate consents have been obtained
    • purchase of alcohol.
• Projects that regional grants don’t fund
  • In addition to the exclusions listed above, they will also not fund:
    • medical expenses
    • travel and accommodation outside Auckland
    • retrospective costs
    • fundraising events or activities.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board will allocate grants based on, but not necessarily limited to, the following:
  • Applications will only be accepted for projects which result in the creation or improvement of a capital asset at or associated with a community facility on Aotea / Great Barrier Island that is available for community use. Examples of eligible projects include but are not limited to the following:
    • Buildings, structures, plant, services, infrastructure or equipment
    • Upgrades or refurbishments to existing facilities
    • New or upgraded alternative power systems, low energy appliances and equipment, rainwater collection systems, provision of safe drinking water, upgrade of septic and sewage systems
  • Applications must provide evidence that the facility for which a grant is sought is available for use by the community and a record of such use over the preceding 12 months unless the facility hasn’t been operating during that period.
  • Applicants must demonstrate alignment with the outcomes in the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 and the amount granted may reflect the extent to which the project aligns with the local board plan.
  • Applicants must hold (or be able to obtain) insurance for the asset being applied for.
  • Where a building or resource consent is needed this must also be obtained prior to the grant being released although advance funding to enable this can be provided if specified in the application.
  • Where paid project management assistance is required the amount of this must be included in the application.
  • Applicants must contribute a percentage of the project cost in cash, labour or materials, with the percentage increasing as the cost of the project increases as follows:
    • Up to $5000 = 5 percent
    • $5001-$10,000 = 7.5 percent
    • Over $10,001 = 10 percent
  • Grants of up to $50,000 only may be approved for one project. More than one application per group can be made.
  • Where a grant over $10,000 is approved this may be paid in stages with later payment amounts based on the project meeting agreed milestones.
  • Projects or activities which have zero-waste messages and practices will be given higher priority.
  • There is a preference for two quotes, where practical
• Note: Capital projects previously funded by the local board, must be completed, before a community group can apply for another grant, unless justification can be given as to why they are needing to complete another project.

Ineligible

• In addition to the eligibility criteria outlined the Community Grants Policy, the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board will not fund:
  • Retrospective costs. It is important groups plan for funding needs wherever possible.
  • GST will not be funded, if the community group or individual is GST registered.
  • Insurance costs.
• Note: The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board may on a case by case basis, support community organisations providing primary health care or core educational services, where these services are delivered on the island by community organisations.

For more information, visit Auckland Council.