Funding Sources

Business Investigation Investment

The Poutama Māori Business Trust provides financial assistance to micro and small businesses.  Its aim is to move businesses to the next level of business development.  The Business Investigation Investment enables businesses to investigate innovative ideas to help strengthen and grow existing activities.  Investment covers (but is not limited to):

• Offshore market research and visits
• Provisional protection of intellectual property rights
• Feasibility studies, prototype development and concept design.

Up to $10,000 (including GST) can be approved in total per calendar year, with a lifetime limit per organisation of $60,000.  Priority will be given to applicants who:

• Clearly demonstrate the commercial viability of their business activity
• Are ineligible to receive funds from other sources
• Demonstrate a capacity to plan and undertake activities effectively and account for funds provided
• Show considerable initiative and effort in striving for self-reliance.

For more information see the Poutama Māori Business Trust website – www.poutama.co.nz/finance/micro-finance.htm

Business Lending

The Pacific Business Trust provides a professionally managed loan programme for business start-up or expansion to New Zealanders of Pacific Island descent.  Secured loans are available of up to $100,000 and are approved for up to a five year term.  Applicants must be able to contribute a minimum of 15% of the total cost of the project.

Applicants must submit a completed loan application form with supporting documentation and a full written Business Plan, including a 12 month cash flow forecast.  The Pacific Business Trust also has business advisers available.

For more information see the Pacific Business Trust website – www.pacificbusiness.co.nz/

Community Development Scheme

The Community Development Scheme was established to support community, hapū/iwi/Māori, Pacific and ethnic groups in areas of identified need to determine their own development priorities and achieve sustainable community outcomes.  The scheme is designed to support community-driven projects that will enable people to come together, build trust and begin the process of working towards finding their own solutions to issues they face.

Applications are invited from community organisations/hapū/iwi based in specific localities during each funding round.  Projects that will be funded enable strong community organisations/hapū/iwi that:

• Seek appropriate solutions together
• Provide people with a sense of belonging and purpose, shared vision and common values
• Have capable and enterprising leadership
• Have proactive, inclusive organisation
• Are resilient and resourceful.

For more information see the Department of Internal Affairs website – www.dia.govt.nz

Community Internship Programme

The Community Internship Programme is a skill-sharing and capacity-building scheme that provides grants for placing experienced and skilled people from the public, private, community and voluntary sectors on short or medium term internships with host community organisations.

The main goals of the programme (capacity-building and relationship building) are achieved through:

• Importing new and otherwise inaccessible skills and knowledge to the host community organisation, leaving it stronger and more effective as a result of the internship
• Providing the intern with the opportunity to gather new experiences, build new networks and gain a new community perspective
• Enable the intern’s home organisation to draw on the broadened experience, renewed energy and new ideas of the intern.

Applications should demonstrate how the outcomes of the internship will be of benefit to the host organisation, the intern and the home organisation; and encourage the development of relationships between the three parties across public, private, community and/or voluntary sectors.

For more information see the Department of Internal Affairs website – www.dia.govt.nz

Economic Development Associations

Economic Development Associations provide a range of functions which may include assistance with business start-ups, business counselling and assessment, professional development services, business mentors and marketing support.

For more information, including a list of local economic development associations see the Tourism New Zealand website - www.tourism.govt.nz/funding/fnd-cultural.html

Enterprise Development Grants

The Enterprise Development Grants programme is set up by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise to assist New Zealand businesses and entrepreneurs to gain additional skills and abilities to pursue their business development goals through building capacity and supporting development initiatives.  There are two components of the Enterprise Development Grants programme: a Market Development component and a Capability Building component.

The Market Development component aims to help more New Zealand companies undertake new, international market development activities.  It can be used for marketing-related expenditure related to entering or promoting a better position in an international market, including (but not limited to) market visits, in-market representation, advertising and promotion, marketing collateral, trade fairs and events and market research.  Companies can apply for one-off cofunding of up to $100,000 in eligible costs for the 12-month period from which the cofunding is granted.

The Capability Building component functions to assist businesses and entrepreneurs to build business capability.  It can be used for strategic business development, feasibility studies, business and operational excellence, e-commerce and e-business strategies, market development - strategy development, business mentoring, management and technology-based training and business advisory boards.  It provides maximum co-funding per business of $20,000 per financial year.

For more information see the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise website – www.nzte.govt.nz/section/12577.aspx

Growth Services Fund

The Growth Services Fund is set up by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise to offer support for high growth potential firms to purchase external advice, expertise and market development services.  It is intended to assist with new initiatives and directions aimed at having a significant impact on the business, leading to substantial, sustained growth.  The fund covers (but is not limited to):

• Preparation of documentation to obtain finance for business development
• Feasibility studies
• Development of prototype design and testing
• Development of business, strategic or marketing plans
• Advice and assistance for human resource development
• Assessment and implementation of total quality management, quality assurance and business excellence programmes
• Development of intellectual property protection and commercialisation
• Financial planning and development of improved financial systems as part of a development project
• Advice on legal, tax or other issues relating to a new business structure underpinning a new business initiative
• Assistance to fund external, professional mentors or project managers to assist with the implementation of a growth initiative
• International business exchanges.

The Fund is accessible for companies who have been identified as having clear and significant growth potential, and for whom a development plan has been compiled by Client Services staff.  Co-funding of up to 50% will be offered.

For more information see the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise website – www.nzte.govt.nz/section/11964.aspx

Local and Regional Council Funding

Some councils provide assistance for businesses with growth, marketing and economic development.  See www.govt.nz for a list of local and regional councils and their websites.

Lottery Community

Lottery Community considers applications for developmental or preventative projects, welfare and support services, or projects that help to improve the wellbeing of people in the community.

Examples of projects and activities given priority include projects encouraging people to participate in their community, training and supervision, feasibility studies and one-off projects and new initiatives.

For more information see the Department of Internal Affairs website – www.dia.govt.nz

Lottery Grants

The New Zealand Lottery Grants Board distributes the profits from state lotteries run by the New Zealand Lotteries Commission.  Any non-profit or community organisation (and in some cases, individuals) can apply for a Lottery Grant for ventures and activities that will benefit the community and are not already funded from another source.

Regardless of the amount applied for, grants of more than $10,000 can only be made to legal entities (e.g. incorporated societies, charitable trusts, and companies with charitable status).

For more information see the Department of Internal Affairs website – www.dia.govt.nz

Māori Community Development Worker Scheme

The Māori Community Development Worker Scheme is a capacity-building initiative designed to transfer skills to enable Māori communities to solve their own problems and contribute to an increase in self-reliance.  The scheme administers funding for two community organisations to employ a Māori Community Development Worker for up to three years (with the possibility of a fourth year).  It provides for salary costs, operating expenses, communications, office and administrative overheads and programme expenses.  The focus of the Māori Community Development Worker is on building the capacity of communities to create and sustain development opportunities by passing on training, planning, negotiation, project management, business planning, fundraising/marketing and relationship-building skills.

For more information see the Department of Internal Affairs website – www.dia.govt.nz

Pacific Development and Conservation Trust

The objectives of the Pacific Development and Conservation Trust are to:

• Encourage and promote the enhancement, protection and conservation of the natural environment of the South Pacific and its natural resources
• Promote the peaceful economic, physical and social development and self-sustainability of the South Pacific and its peoples, ensuring that the use of any natural or historic resource is not inconsistent with its conservation
• Encourage and promote peaceful conservation and development of the cultural heritage of the peoples of the South Pacific
• Encourage and promote peace, understanding and goodwill between the peoples of the South Pacific.

Applicants to the Trust must be New Zealand or South Pacific citizens.  Priority will be given to projects that:

• Are community-driven and involve and benefit local communities
• Promote cultural/social and economic self-sufficiency and sustainability
• Are innovative and/or act as suitable models for other communities
• Are based around conservation, involving representative endangered, threatened or unique habitats and species.

For more information see the Department of Internal Affairs website – www.dia.govt.nz

Regional Tourism Organisations

Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) provide a range of functions which may include domestic and international marketing of a region, destination management and product development.

For more information, including a list of local RTOs see the Tourism New Zealand website - www.tourism.govt.nz/funding/fnd-cultural.html

Significant Community Based Projects Fund

The Significant Community Based Projects Fund was established to support community-based projects and events of regional and national significance.  Projects must have a range of benefits contributing to regional and/or national outcomes with particular reference to:

• Arts, culture and heritage
• Sport and recreation
• Tourism
• Conservation and the environment
• Economic development

Additionally, projects could generate wider public benefits, which may include education and training; strengthening community relationships and social capital; and improved quality of life and enhanced national identity.

The fund should be seen as a mechanism to obtain support when all other avenues have been exhausted.

For more information see the Department of Internal Affairs website – www.dia.govt.nz

SmartStart Assistance Scheme

The SmartStart Assistance Scheme, set up by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, supports the investigation and resolution of early stage barriers to technological innovation R&D projects.  It assists firms to address any or all of the following issues:

• Technology project design, planning and assessment
• Technology gap and opportunity assessment
• Technology advice and guidance
• Technical or technological feasibility
• Technology investigation and acquisition
• Strategic technology planning.

SmartStart assistance is provided if there is a credible prospect of a significant R&D project to be undertaken following provision of assistance.  It provides 50% cofunding up to a maximum of $25,000.

For more information see the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology website – www.frst.govt.nz/business/fund_SmartStart.cfm

Sustainable Management Fund

The objective of the Sustainable Management Fund has been to make a positive difference to the environment by funding projects that fit under one of the five topic areas that strengthen partnerships between the community, industry, iwi and local government; and that can demonstrate buy-in and support from stakeholders. The five topic areas are:

• Freshwater management initiatives
• ‘Adopt A’ schemes (e.g., adopt a stream)
• Urban sustainability
• Waste minimisation and resource recovery
• Practical action to address climate change).

The fund covers expenses reasonably incurred in providing services or undertaking projects (for example, salaries, administration costs, printing and advertising).

Applications can be made from individual community groups, and community groups that are supported by ‘umbrella’ organisations that can assist them in financial management/project management requirements.

For more information see the Ministry for the Environment website – www.mfe.govt.nz