Funding Opportunities

Find information on a variety of heritage funding sources and how to make an application.

Waitaki Heritage Fund

The Waitaki Heritage Fund was established in 1992, replacing the North Otago Heritage Fund. In 2021 the fund was restructured. After a first-year allocation of $50,000, $100,000 per year has been allocated to the fund under the Long-Term Plan. There are three funding rounds a year.

The policy governing the fund’s operation is available here: Waitaki Heritage Fund Policy(PDF, 265KB)

Waitaki Heritage fund details and application form

Heritage Consent Fee Waiver 

If the only reason you need a resource consent is because the place has a heritage listing, you meet the eligibility criteria and your project maintains, supports, or improves a place’s heritage values or extends the life of a place, you may apply for your Heritage Resource Consent Fee Waiver (up to a maximum of $2,500).  No waiver will be considered for work that damages or destroys heritage fabric or buildings.

The policy is available here: Heritage Consent Fee Waiving Policy(PDF, 205KB)

The Resource consent application (PDF, 508KB)form has a box for you to tick if you are eligible to apply for the heritage consent fee waiver and you wish to apply.

Contact the Planning Department or the Heritage Advisor for more information. 

Other Heritage Funding

For more information other funding for Heritage, contact the below organisations. You can also contact the Council’s Heritage Advisor who may be able to help with a letter of support for funding applications.

Heritage New Zealand’s National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund

Private owners of places listed with Heritage New Zealand or proposed for listing as Category 1 historic places can apply to the National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund. For more information contact the Otago/Southland Area Office of Heritage New Zealand.

The National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund is administered by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. The fund provides financial incentives to encourage the conservation of privately owned heritage places recognised on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero.

Priority is given to nationally significant heritage that needs conservation, places where conservation work is planned and could benefit from extra funding.

Lottery Environment and Heritage

Community groups and organisations with heritage listed buildings, or heritage buildings with high community values or support can apply to the Lottery Environment and Heritage Committee/ Te Tahua Taiao Nga Taonga. Lottery Environment and Heritage provides grants for plans, reports and one-off projects that will protect, conserve and promote New Zealand’s natural, cultural and physical heritage.

Otago Community Trust

Community groups and organisations with heritage listed buildings, or heritage buildings with high community values or support can also apply to the Otago Community Trust.