Climate resilient communities fund

Building resilient communities is a priority for Northland Regional Council. It is central to council’s Strategy for tackling climate change – Ngā Taumata o te Moana, which aims to make Te Taitokerau more resilient and help our region transition proactively and equitably to a thriving net-zero emissions society before 2050. Over the next 10 years, Northland Regional Council will invest $9.2 million through the Climate Resilient Communities Fund into projects that build community capacity and drive transformational change.

Funding is available for projects that:

• build capacity and scale-up regional initiatives for faster and more sustainable results
• raise awareness and encourage a deeper understanding of the challenges our communities face
• strengthen local connections and build enduring partnerships
• create plans for transformational change that support community and tangata whenua climate resilience
• encourage participation in action projects that make a difference now to build collective community resilience
• are a good fit with one of the fund’s five impact areas.

The fund’s impact areas are:

• Water Resilience (Te Wai)
• Energy Resilience (Te Ngao)
• Nature-based Resilience (Te Taiao)
• Food Resilience (Te Kai)
• Planning for Resilience (Ngā Mahi Whakamahere)

For more information about the impact areas, download the Climate Resilient Communities Fund guidelines (PDF 4.41 MB)

Find out more about successful applicants from previous funding rounds here.

We’re looking for innovative and forward-thinking initiatives. These initiatives must be driven by how a changing climate could affect our region. They must make plans or take action to improve our long-term resilience to climate change.

Emergency response is not a focus of this fund.

Applications most likely to be successful will:

• Deliver significant social, cultural, environmental and economic resilience outcomes for the wider community.
• Prioritise communities or populations most vulnerable or exposed to climate impacts enabling an equitable transition to community climate resilience.
• Empower communities to take charge of their resilience to a changing climate, strengthening local connections and partnerships and showing that the outcomes of the project will continue beyond the initial scope of the grant.
• Ensure circular and sustainable practices are applied and that future impacts are considered to avoid negative consequences.

For a list of In Scope and Out of Scope activities please refer to the Climate Resilient Communities Fund guidelines (PDF 4.41 MB)

Applications to the Climate Resilient Communities Fund must be for projects in Te Taitokerau / Northland and can be from:

• community or neighbourhood groups
• tāngata whenua (hapū or iwi groups/marae committees)
• social enterprises and not-for-profit businesses, or
• education providers.

Applicants must be a legal entity registered in New Zealand – such as an incorporated society, charitable trust, or not-for-profit limited-liability company. If your organisation is not a legal entity, you may partner with an appropriate organisation that has legal status.

For more information on eligibility criteria, please refer to the Climate Resilient Communities Fund guidelines (PDF 4.41 MB)

• Groups can apply for up to $40,000 plus GST per application.
• The minimum amount for project funding is $5,000 plus GST.
• The total value of funding available this financial year (2025-2026) is $600,000.

You don’t need to be GST registered. However, you’ll need to tell us your GST status on your application form and complete the field relevant to you. Successful applications will make some form of contribution to the project, which may include other funding through a co-funding arrangement, or an in-kind contribution of goods or services.

To apply, please complete an online application form. We recommend reading the Climate Resilient Communities Fund guidelines (PDF 4.41 MB) before you apply. Have them on hand while you prepare your application. The guidelines tell you what information you’ll need to apply, including:

• Applicant details
• Project information
• Project plan and budget.

Applications open on Monday 28 April and close at 5pm on Tuesday 3 June 2025.

If you are unable to complete an application online, please contact our team who will help you with this.

E: [email protected] | P: 0800 002 004