Funding Assistance for Landowners

Rates Remission

The objective of the policy is to encourage the protection of significant natural areas by providing rates relief for privately owned land that contains special features voluntarily protected for natural, historic, cultural or conservation purposes. Council may remit all or part of the rates of rating units covered by this policy, provided that both the general conditions and the specific conditions within the policy have been met.

Contact Jodie Denton or Suzanne Syme on 03 319 5026 for more information or click here for a copy of the policy.

Raising the awareness

In conjunction with Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, a field visit to a prospective covenant was held on 22nd November 2006. This was coordinated whilst the QEII board were here in Kaikoura for their board meeting and was a great opportunity for them to see some of our stunning countryside.

The purpose of the event was to raise the awareness of both the District Councils SNA project & the assistance QEII can offer those interested and other means of assistance available. Invites were sent out far and wide to all landowners contacted previously as part of the project, those already taking part, covenanters & new prospectives, agency groups, those that can offer assistance, councillors and also the media.

Doug Eaton as landowner was the kind host for the day and is working with QEII Trust in order to protect his block of secondary forest and adjacent treelands on a broad gentle alluvial fan. All of which there is very little left of in the Kaikoura area.

It was a fantastically sunny Kaikoura day, with a fresh dump of snow on the Mt Fyffe range to suitably impress those that attended.  Couldn’t have asked for a better day!

The turn out was pleasing although it was hoped that more ‘curious’ folk may have come along to see what it was all about.

The group that attended though had a great couple of hours in the sunshine checking out the interesting factors of Doug Eaton’s covenant & the reasons for covenanting. We also discussed the SNA project, the various aspects of protection, what QEII do, how they can help & forms of assistance available.

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Funding Assistance from Other Organisations

Options available locally in the Canterbury area are:

Environment Canterbury Enhancement Fund www.ecan.govt.nz

Transpower Landcare Grants Programme  www.landcare.org.nz

Sustainable Farming Fund

Funding projects that help rural communities help themselves. Each year Sustainable Farming Fund provides up to $9.5 million in grants for projects that contribute to the on-going economic, environmental, and social well being of the countrys primary producers. www.maf.govt.nz 

Biodiversity Advice & Condition Funds

These are a government initiative to enhance management of indigenous biodiversity outside public conservation lands (i.e. only private land - including Maori land - is funded). This includes areas of native vegetation, wetlands, and the habitats of native fish, birds and other species. Applications are invited twice a year from private landowners and community groups. Keep an eye on the website for funding round open dates.  www.biodiversity.govt.nz  

NZ Game Bird Habitat Trust

The primary purpose of the Game Bird Habitat Trust Board is to distribute funding for the development and enhancement of wetland habitat for the benefit of game birds and other wetland inhabitants. www.fishandgame.org.nz.

HPF Habitat Protection Fund

Three rounds a year, 1 June & 1 October & 1 February. Funding is provided for local habitat protection groups working to protect areas of high conservation significance in their community. www.wwf.org.nz

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