Discretionary Response Fund

The purpose of this fund is to assist community groups with emergency or unforeseen situations.

Applications will support community-focused organisations whose projects contribute to the strengthening of community wellbeing in the Christchurch city area.

This fund operates differently at a metropolitan and local level.

Applications to local funds are open from 1 July each year.

Metropolitan applications can be submitted from July but will not be considered until September. 

Once the annual allocation of funds is exhausted the fund is closed.

The funding period is for 12 months after the date of submission.

Local Discretionary Response Fund

Community Boards can grant funds to any group or person for any purpose except for those listed below.

Metropolitan Discretionary Response Fund

Applications are being accepted for this fund, however, the next meeting is not until late September 2023, with funds being distributed shortly thereafter.

Continue with the application to the Metropolitan Discretionary Response fund only if funding is not required until late September 2023.

The Local Discretionary Response Fund will not cover:

• Activities or initiatives where the primary purpose is to promote religious ministry, political objectives or commercial profit-orientated interests.
• Debt servicing or re-financing costs.
• Stock or capital market investment.
• Gambling or prize money.
• Payment of fines or court costs.
• Payment for IRD penalties or retrospective tax payments.
• Legal challenges against Council, Community Boards, Council-controlled organisations or Environment Court decisions.
• Projects or initiatives that change the scope of a Council project.
• Projects or initiatives that will lead to ongoing operational costs to the Council.

The Metropolitan Discretionary Response Fund will not cover:

• Debt servicing or re-financing costs.
• Stock or capital market investment.
• Projects that are considered to be the primary responsibility of the central government.
• Gambling or prize money.
• Funding of individuals.
• Activities or initiatives where the primary purpose is to promote religious ministry, political objectives, and commercial or profit-oriented interests.
• Payment of fines or court costs.
• Payment for IRD penalties or retrospective tax payments.
• Legal challenges against Council, Community Boards, Council-controlled organisations or Environment Court decisions.
• Projects or initiatives that change the scope of a Council project.
• Projects or initiatives that will lead to ongoing operational costs to the Council.
• Retrospective costs or project or purchase costs incurred or settled before the agreed commencement date of the funding agreement.

This fund will usually not cover:

• Entertainment costs except for costs directly linked to volunteer recognition.
• Funding of individuals.
• Purchase of land and buildings.
• Building maintenance or facility design, development and renovation costs.
• Fundraising or general income growth purposes.
• Costs to remedy, rectify, upgrade, retrofit or replace equipment, vehicles or premises as a result of action by central or local government departments or other agencies who hold regulatory or enforcement powers.
• Purchase of vehicles and any related ongoing maintenance repair, overhead costs or road user charges.
• Air travel, accommodation hotel or motel expenses.

• Funding received is to be spent 12 months from the receipt of the grant.
• Any alterations to the use of the funding must be discussed with council staff and agreed to or funding may be required to be returned.
• An accountability form must be completed when funding is spent or 13 months after the money was granted

Future funding can be withheld if accountability requirements are not met.

• 2019-2020 Discretionary Response Fund recipients [PDF, 170 KB]
• 2020-2021 Discretionary Response Fund recipients [PDF, 156 KB]