Waitaki Heritage Fund
Applications to the Waitaki Heritage Fund have closed.
The Waitaki Heritage Fund was established in 1992, replacing the North Otago Heritage Fund. In 2021 the fund was restructured. The purpose of the fund is encourage heritage place owners to retain, preserve, conserve and maintain historic buildings and sites.
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 two application rounds per year. All applicants will be notified in writing of the Committee’s decision.
Fund application dates
- opens Monday 3 February 2025 – closes Monday 28 April 2025
- opens Monday 7 July 2025 – closes Monday 8 September 2025
Who can apply for funding?
You can apply for assistance if you are the owner of a heritage building in the Waitaki District or own land upon which an historic site is located. That is:
- Buildings/structures/sites listed as ‘historic places’ on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero (‘The List’) and/or scheduled as contributing buildings/heritage buildings/ structures/sites in the Heritage Appendix of the Waitaki District Plan.
- Places listed as Wāhi Tūpuna, Wāhi Tapu or Wāhi Tapu areas by Heritage New Zealand.
- Contributing buildings/structures in a Historic Area in The List and/or within a Heritage Precinct of the Waitaki District Plan.
- Places likely to meet the criteria for being included on The List or the Waitaki District Plan’s heritage appendix.
What can you apply for?
The grants are for works that enhance the historic character of heritage buildings or sites. Generally, preference will be given to (in no particular order):
- Restoring or reconstructing missing original features (such as parapets).
- Painting in heritage colours of a previously painted structure.
- Paint removal where the paint is inappropriate or damaging to a structure.
- Essential repairs, stabilisation, or core structural works (eg repairs and maintenance, for example, re-roofing, damp proofing, gutter replacement).
- Upgrades to code/regulation standards to enable contemporary use of heritage places
- Specific “like with like” material replacement/maintenance projects that protect the integrity of heritage buildings.
- Preparing of heritage conservation plans or condition reports.
- Emergency works to protect heritage fabric.
- Earthquake strengthening works.
- Retrospective works will be considered at the discretion of the committee.
- Emergency applications may be made at any time.
From time to time the committee may prioritise particular types of applications. For example, conservation and preservation of sites that are earthquake prone or applications from building owners in Oamaru’s town centre.
What kind of works are not eligible?
Works that do not enhance or preserve heritage values.
- Additions and extensions to heritage buildings.
- New signage.
- Works on Council or Crown-owned properties.
- Full or partial demolition of a heritage building; and
- New buildings within heritage areas/heritage precincts.
How to apply
Applications open
Download a printable pdf form: Waitaki heritage fund application form.(PDF, 291KB)
It is recommended to fill out the pdf versions of forms in Adobe Reader, if they are filled out in a web browser, it may not save the information when the tab or browser are closed. If you are filling out in your web browser, please make sure to save the form before closing.
If you are considering applying to the heritage fund, contact our Heritage Advisor who can provide with support and advice.
Accountability
Recipients of funding through the Waitaki Heritage Fund are required to complete an Accountability Form within which they must:
- Describe how the grant was spent and attach evidence of expenditure - such as receipts, invoices or signed statements.
- Report the benefits of having received the assistance.
Download a printable pdf form:Waitaki heritage fund acccountability form.(PDF, 171KB)
It is recommended to fill out the pdf versions of forms in Adobe Reader, if they are filled out in a web browser, it may not save the information when the tab or browser are closed. If you are filling out in your web browser, please make sure to save the form before closing.
Recent grant projects
Check a list of projects the Heritage Fund has contributed to from 2020 onwards.