Funding for Heritage Protection

National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund

The Government's 2003 Budget announced the creation of a national heritage preservation incentive fund to be administered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

The purpose of the fund is to provide financial incentives to encourage the conservation of nationally significant heritage places in private ownership, as opposed to those in the ownership of the public sector and agencies eligible for funding from the Lottery Grants Board. Priority is given to heritage places of national significance where conservation work is planned and could be improved through extra funding.

The annual appropriation approved by Parliament for this fund is $563,000 (GST inclusive).

Lottery Grants Board

Community organistions can apply to the Lottery Environment and Heritage Committee for funding grants for projects which ‘promote, protect and conserve New Zealand's natural, physical and cultural heritage’. Such projects can include historical publications, museums, whare taonga and art galleries as well as the conservation of historic buildings, structures, rolling stock, archaeological sites and wahi tapu sites. There is also a separate fund specifically for the conservation of marae buildings and taonga.

The Committee meets four times a year, in March, June, September and November to consider applications, which must be received three months prior to a meeting. Trust staff are available to assist applicants with advice and/or professional endorsement for suitable projects. Contact your local Trust office for more details.