This fund supports proactive partnership work between Council and community groups for environmentally focused activities and projects on publicly accessible land and waterways.

The Environmental Partnerships Fund opens in the second half of 2025. 

We will make an announcement closer to the time.

The allocation of money to projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis against the purpose of the fund and the evaluation criteria.

In general, funds allocated should be spent within twelve months of receiving the Council funds.

Multi-year applications can be considered provided the business case is compelling and satisfactory progress reports for milestones are provided in advance of each year.

  • Community organisations can apply to this fund.  Preference will be given to Christchurch and/or Banks Peninsula-based organisations or partnerships, who already have a successful track record of partnering with Council.
  • Applicants must be a legal entity registered in New Zealand, such as an incorporated society, or charitable trust.
  • Only one application per organisation will normally be accepted by this fund each Council financial year (July to June).
  • This fund can support either operational costs (e.g. staff time) or specific project materials/equipment needed to successfully deliver tangible environmental outcomes that benefit Christchurch and/or Banks Peninsula.
  • This fund will not support projects or organisations principally for advancing commercial or personal gain. Proposals and organisations must deliver an environmental outcome for Christchurch and/or Banks Peninsula. 

Proposals will be assessed against the following evaluation criteria and how they respond to the purpose of the fund (i.e. the Council’s Vision and Strategic Priorities and Biodiversity Strategy). 

Applications should consider how they meet each of the following criteria. 

Evaluation criteria Explanation
1. Environmental The extent to which the group or project is directly engaged in improving environmental outcomes for Christchurch and/or Banks Peninsula. Consideration will be given to the nature or scale of benefits provided and the significance of the issue or opportunity being addressed by the project
2. Partnering capacity The fund may also support new groups that demonstrate a significant capacity to partner with Council going forward
3. Deliverable The applicant has the required skills, experience, resources or support to complete environmental work with Council 
4. Measurable The project will result in measurable benefits or outcomes for Christchurch that will be monitored and reported on at the completion of the project

Applications will be considered by the Council’s Environmental Partnerships Panel. The final decision will be made by Council.

The following will generally not be funded:

  • Retrospective costs incurred or settled before the agreed date of the funding agreement
  • Debt servicing or re-financing costs
  • Stock or capital market investment
  • Gambling or prize money
  • Payment of any legal expenditure, including costs or expenditures related to mediation disputes or ACC, Employment Tribunal, Small Claims Tribunal, Professional or Disciplinary Body hearings
  • Payment of fines, court costs, mediation costs, IRD penalties or retrospective tax payments
  •  Purchase of land and buildings
  • Activities or initiatives where the primary purpose is to promote religious ministry, political objectives, commercial or profit-oriented interests
  • Medical or healthcare costs – including treatment and insurance fees
  • Fundraising
  • Entertainment costs or private social functions
  • Air travel, accommodation, hotel/motel expenses
  • Private benefit.

Before funding is drawn down, applicants will be required to sign a standard Council Funding Agreement.

Depending on the specific project, changes may be needed to this agreement at the sole discretion of Council.

Reporting

To receive a grant from Christchurch City Council, groups are required to provide reporting on how the funds were spent. This is a condition of the Community Grants terms and conditions [PDF, 35 KB] that must be agreed before receiving a grant.

Organisations are required to spend the grant as per the resolution on the funding agreement. Any variation to this, not previously agreed to by Council, will require a return of grant money. 

The same applies if the funded project is finished, with unspent grant funds. Unless approved for a change of purpose by Council, this will require a return of the unspent grant money.

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

An online accountability form is due either when funding is fully spent or 13 months after the money was granted.