Page 1 - Natural Heritage Fund - 2025 - Waikato Regional Council

The Natural Heritage Fund (NHF) is designed to support community led, collaborative projects that have long term, landscape scale, intergenerational ecological benefits, including assisting in securing public assets and public access.

Eligibility Checklist (Not Applicable)

The Natural Heritage Partnership Programme Funding Policy outlines what the Natural Heritage Fund (NHF) can provide funding for. Applicants must be able to demonstrate they meet the eligibility checklist below. Only initiatives that satisfy all six eligibility checklist items can continue to the application form. For each section, please tick all that are applicable as a self check of your eligibility. Note, this will be verified through the application and assessment process by Council.

1. Landscape scale

Landscape scale can be defined in the following ways. Your application must provide evidence of one or more of the following, as a guide. Tick all that apply.

Scale: initiatives that are larger than 400 hectares

Ecological Connectivity: through the development and enhancement of an ecological corridor or ecological stepping stones.

Defined / Defendable Area: a naturally defined ecological region such as a catchment boundary.

Ecological Variation: incorporating multiple ecosystems e.g. a dune, wetland and terrestrial forest.

Connecting community effort: incorporating multiple groups and/or landowners to achieve landscape scale biodiversity outcomes and a collective approach to delivering these outcomes (e.g. a hub or collective).

Clear

2. Community led and collaborative

Must be led by the community and must incorporate collaboration at multiple levels of your organisation. Community is defined as any stakeholders within the area where your work will be undertaken. You must be able to demonstrate all of the following:

Community are part of the governance and strategic planning.

Ongoing volunteer input.

Mana whenua led or ongoing cultural and mana whenua collaboration, support or leadership (see point 3 below for more detail).

Relationships with other relevant stakeholders. Examples may include local and central government, technical experts, funders, businesses, or school communities.

Clear

3. Involvement / support of mana whenua

You must provide evidence of one or more of the following. Tick all that apply.

Mana whenua led initiative, including incorporation of mātauranga Māori into planning and delivery.

Active mana whenua involvement in governance e.g. trustee / board members.

Mana whenua involved in the delivery.

Letter of support from mana whenua confirming alignment with iwi aspirations.

Cultural framework, plan or guiding document developed and available.

Clear

4. Long term, inter-generational benefits

Your initiative must have long term inter-generational biodiversity benefits by demonstrating one or more of the following. Tick all that apply.

If you are an established organisation, you must be able to demonstrate a history of success with biodiversity outcomes, and a clear plan for the future which incorporates succession planning.

If you are a new organisation you must have a clear plan for the future and demonstrate you will have long term biodiversity outcomes.

The initiative has a range of people involved from diverse backgrounds, cultures, age groups and with a range of expertise that will support ongoing, long-term success.

Clear

5. Demonstrate co-funding

The initiative does not rely solely on funding from Waikato Regional Council and must provide evidence of one or more of the following. Tick all that apply.

Confirmed funding from other entities.

Significant in-kind volunteer support.

Funding through a business model (e.g. tourism, providing services to others).

Clear

6. Landowner support and permission

If applicable, you must be able to provide evidence of the following:

Letter of support or permission from landowners (note complete signed landowner permission will be required before funding can be granted to groups/organisations).

Not applicable (e.g. you are the sole landowner, or you are operating as a community hub).

Clear

Before you apply (Not Applicable)

You must complete all required sections of the application form. Failure to provide the necessary information will impact the success of your application.

If you have any questions about your application please contact Andrew Thomas on 0800 800 401 or email nhf@waikatoregion.govt.nz.

Natural Heritage Fund - 2025

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Introduction

Eligibility Checklist (Not Applicable)

Before you apply (Not Applicable)

Grants Information

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