Environmental Initiatives Fund

Information for applicants - please read first

• Assessment criteria

  Applications are assessed by Waikato Regional Council's staff according to how well they meet the following criteria:

  • Fit with Council’s regional outcomes and policies – how the project contributes to Council’s LTP outcomes and resource management policies.
  • Environmental enhancement – a clear need for the project, and how the project will directly promote, enhance or protect the Waikato region’s environment including the protection of threatened habitats and species.
  • Community participation & awareness – how the project involves the wider community and increases public awareness of environmental issues.
  • Collaboration and partnership – whether the applicants have explored and developed any opportunities for collaboration and partnership with others resulting in contributory funding from other parties.
  • Viability – the likelihood of the project’s success and the applicant’s capability to deliver the outcomes of the project. Desirable attributes include a robust project plan, a project budget providing visibility of all funding sources for the project and a clear method for monitoring the success of the project.
  • Budget - does the project represent value for money and is the applicant actively involved in the project and making a contribution in the form of materials, labour, advisory role, education or financial contribution.
  • Value to Mana Whenua – how the project involves iwi Māori including their cultural values, interests and associations, the effect on Māori historic heritage or the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, waahi tapu and other taonga including fauna and flora.
• Who can apply?

  A wide range of organisations are eligible to apply for EIF funding. They include:

  • Community groups
  • Iwi/hapu
  • Kaitiaki groups
  • Incorporated societies
  • Community trusts
  • Resident and ratepayer groups
  • Territorial authorities
  • Landowner groups (e.g. Landcare or Streamcare groups)
  • Tertiary education institutions
  • Businesses and industries

  Organisations must be a legal entity with a proven track record of delivering environmental enhancement/education projects that satisfies the Waikato Regional Council.
• Limitations

  If you are already receiving funding for a project through the Natural Heritage Fund or the Small Scale Community Initiatives Fund in the current financial year then you will not be eligible to apply for EIF funding for the same project. 

  If you have received a grant through either of the three funds in the past for the same project, you must ensure that you have completed your final accountability report before applying to this EIF round.
• What cannot be funded?
  • Projects located outside the Waikato region.
  • Debt repayment.
  • Projects receiving funding from other Waikato Regional Council programmes.
  • Projects which are core business of other agencies.
  • Travel, conference, legal or accounting expenses.
  • Landscaping, food gardening and wildlife pond projects.
  • Proposals designed to generate personal or commercial profit.
  • Purchase of large capital items of equipment or infrastructure.
  • Any works/activities that are required as conditions of a resource consent.
  • Projects that require but have not been granted resource consent.
  • Retrospective costs.
  • Land purchase.
• How are the applications assessed?

  Council staff will assess the applications with recommendations being forwarded to Council’s Integrated Catchment Management Committee for the final decision. If the Fund is oversubscribed, we will prioritise applications that best meet the criteria above. Projects may also be part-funded. There is no obligation on the Committee to allocate the total amount in the Fund if insufficient qualifying applications are received.