Community Grants

The Kaikōura Mayoral Earthquake Relief Fund was originally established to assist Kaikōura residents known to be most affected by the November 2016 earthquakes.  Since the Fund was set up, over $170,000 has been paid out in emergency grants to individuals and households.

Now, with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our local economy, some people in our community are once again exposed to financial hardship.  In addition to any person affected by the earthquakes able to apply for a household grant, Council is inviting any ratepayer experiencing hardship due to COVID-19 to apply for funds to help pay their rates bill.

Applications close: Closes at 4pm on the 25th of each month

Contact: sheryl@kaikoura.govt.nz or 319-5026 extn 203

Approval process: Complete the application form, email sheryl@kaikoura.govt.nz or drop off at Council Reception . Applications are assessed and paid out monthly. Grants are paid directly into successful applicant’s nominated bank accounts.

Complete the Mayoral Relief Fund Application Form.

Mayoral Relief Fund Fact Sheet 

Want to make a donation? 

Donations can be made to bank account 02-0856-0011698-005. 

The Kaikōura Community Initiatives Fund was set up to support & encourage public education & Community events. If you have an exciting Community Project in the works download the application form linked below. 

Amount: $10,000 available per annum.

Criteria: Workshops ensuring community participation and engagement (personnel costs for one-off, short term projects, administration and operational costs, donation towards the entry fee, donation towards venue hire); or events that create opportunities for locals to participate in their community (promotion of events or programmes, school-based projects that are outside the school’s core curricular activities).

Who can apply? Individuals or organisations with charitable status.

Applications close: Applications close, 13 September 2021(Round 1) and 14 March 2022 (Round 2). Additional funding rounds may be added at the discretion of the Committee. 

Contact: arlene@kaikoura.govt.nz or 027 566 3064 or 319 5026 ext 263

About: A fund to support projects and events that contribute to achieving annual objectives of the Council and Long Term Plans, such as; activities that contribute to the social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being of Kaikōura; non-profit making, voluntary community groups that encourage public education.

Approval process: The Committee meeting is held approximately two weeks after the application close date and the grant administrator will advise the applicant of the result within two weeks of the Committee's decision.   It is recommended that you include material supporting your project application including quotes and/or prices lists to validate your budget

Download an application form

Download an accountability form

The purpose of the Creative Communities Scheme Fund is to encourage, promote and support the arts in New Zealand. If you are part of a group or an individual planning a performance, exhibition, festival, creative workshop or art project in the Kaikōura Community then this may be for you!

Amount: $15,000 available per annum

Criteria: Projects applied for must meet one of the following criteria:

• Access and Participation: Create opportunities for local communities to engage with, and participate in local art activities.
• Diversity: Support the diverse artistic cultural traditions of local communities.
• Young People: Enable young people (under 18 years) to engage with, and participate in the arts.

Who can apply? Individuals or organisations. Individuals must be NZ citizens or permanent residents. If you have already received funding from CCS for a project, you must complete a report on that project before making another application, unless the project is still in progress.

Applications close: Applications are now open - there are four rounds each year. Closing dates 15 November 2021, 31 January 2022 and 6 June 2022.

Contact: arlene@kaikoura.govt.nz or 027 566 3064 or 319 5026 ext 263

Established: Creative New Zealand is a Crown entity governed by the Arts Council. The council encourages, promotes and supports New Zealand arts to benefit all New Zealanders.

About: Each year Creative New Zealand provides funding to support all ethnicity and cultures within our Community.

Approval process: It is recommended that you include material supporting your project application including quotes and/or prices lists to validate your budget.

Download an application form.

Download an application guide.

Download a project completion report.

This fund is to help with transport expenses to local sporting competitions.

Amount: $9,500 available per annum.

Criteria: Schools sports teams or sports clubs teams are defined as:

• School club team participating in regular local sport competition out of school time, that excludes inter school and intra school competitions played during school time, and/or
• A sports club team participating in organised, regular sport competition through club membership outside of school time.

Who can apply? Rural sports clubs, rural school teams with people aged 5-19 years.

Applications close: the next round will be early 2022.

Contact: arlene@kaikoura.govt.nz or 027 566 3064 or 319 5026 ext 263

Established: This fund is designed to help subsidise rural travel for junior teams aged between 5-19 years.

About: It helps school and club sports teams participate in local sporting competitions. The fund is not available for travelling to regional or national events or to one-off events.

Download an application form

Download an accountability form

Rural Travel Fund Guidelines 2020 - 2021

Four community grants available for the Kaikōura community are administered by Kaikōura District Council. They are advertised through Council’s website, Facebook, email newsletter and various community meetings and groups that work alongside Council.

All relevant application forms and information for each grant is available on this page of our website. 

Grants close at various times during the year and most have multiple funding rounds:

• George Low and Sports NZ Rural Travel Funds (once a year)
• Kaikōura Community Initiative Fund (twice a year)
• Creative Community Scheme (four times a year)

Committee meetings are held after each funding round closes and applications are reviewed and approved/declined at these meetings. The grants administrator at Council then notifies applicants of the outcome and next steps, including accountability for successful applications.

Each community grant has its own application form. These are available on this page of Council's website.

It’s important to make sure you fill out the application with as much detail as possible, and follow the individual guidelines for each grant.

It is a requirement for all grant recipients to complete accountability reporting for how, when and why the grant was used. This information needs to align with the initial application, as the application states what the grant was approved for.

All applications and accountability forms have relatively similar guidelines and needs to be completed correctly. If it is not completed fully, future applications will not proceed.

See some guidance below about making sure you complete your accountability reporting in the right way:

Use of funds

1. You are required to spend the grant funds as it is stated on your budget and application.
2. Any variation to this not previously agreed to by the grant committee, will mean you have to return the money to Council and it will be reallocated within that grant.
3. Funds need to be used within 12 months of the funding being approved. 

Due dates for reporting

1. Generally, accountability reporting needs to be completed within two months of the project ending.
2. If accountability reporting is not completed on time or funds not used within 12 months, the money is required to be returned to Council and reallocated within that grant.
3. If there is any reason the project cannot be completed within 12 months of the funds being allocated, you need to contact the grants administrator to seek an extension on your application, otherwise funds need to be returned. 
4. The grants administrator will seek approval from the committee and will notify the applicant via email or post as soon as possible. 

Invoicing and receipts:

1. The receipts and invoices provided as part of your accountability reporting must match the amount and purpose stated on your budget and application form. This means that if your budget states a basketball is being purchased for $90, you need to ensure your invoice/receipt reflects this amount.
2. All invoices, receipts and related documentation must be related to the original application.
3. Applicants must use the funds for what was approved by the committee. Any variation must be approved by the committee or funds need to be returned. 

What if my project changes or I can’t complete it in the specified time?

1. If your project alters in any way than stated on the application, applicants must communicate via email or letter with the grants administrator so that the committee can be advised.
2. The committee will review the application and the applicant will be advised via email or post of whether the project remains eligible for the funding.
3. If a revised application is declined by the committee, all remaining funding must be returned.

1. All costs, as outlined in the project application budget, needs to be supported with receipts and/or invoices when completing your accountability report.
2. Any participation, public feedback, letters about the project or event should be included in your accountability reporting.
3. Accountability reporting enables Council and the grants committee to meet audit requirements and transparency.
4. These terms and conditions are applicable for all applications that have been received and approved from 1^st February 2019 for the following grants; George Low Trust Fund, Sports NZ Rural Travel Fund, NZ Creative Community Scheme and Kaikōura Initiatives Fund.

COMMENTS OR QUERIES

We welcome your feedback. If you have any comments or queries about grants or unsuccessful applications call Arlene on 027 566 3064 or 319 5026 ext 263; or by email arlene.brown@kaikoura.govt.nz; or post by mail to PO Box 6, Kaikōura, 7340.