Funding

The Buller District Council provides and/or administers a range of funding to community organisations or groups throughout the Buller district. Some are Councils own grants, administered and disbursed at its own discretion. Others are administered on behalf of external organisations. These require the Council to meet the funding guidelines that have been laid down by these bodies.

Council has a Communities Grants Committee, which considers the various applications to the funds at scheduled meetings. In some circumstances, such as the Creative New Zealand funding, additional community members are co-opted on to the committee.

Some of the grants provided and/or administered by Council include;

Community Grants
Arts Funding (Creative New Zealand)
Tourism Grants
Development West Coast Extraordinary Funding
Rural Travel Fund (SPARC)
Councillor Minor Grants
National Representation Assistance
Community Facilities Hire subsidy

Community Grants

The community grants fund was set up to support the work of community groups and volunteer organisations who are providing community and social projects and services within the Buller district.

This is Council's own grants fund, budgeted for each year within its Annual Plan. The funding pool is set annually, and the pool is contestable. Applications are called for twice a year, with funding decisions made in February and August. Applications for each round generally close in early February and August each year. Assistance is not available for individuals or commercial activities.

Generally, more funding requests are received than funds available, so not all applications can be assisted.

Application forms and further information are available from Council offices in Westport and Reefton, or by calling Customer Services on 788 9111. An application pack can be downloaded below.

Applications for the February round have now closed, any applications received now will be held for the following funding round in August. Applications for the August 2012 funding round will be accepted until 4.30pm Monday 6 August 2012.

Community Grants information sheet

Community Grants application pack

Creative Communities Scheme - Funding for the arts

Creative NZ is a central government organisation which is the national agency for the development of the arts in New Zealand. Their purpose is to invest resources in arts in Aotearoa for the long-term benefit of our wonderful country.

Each year Buller District Council receives a grant from Creative NZ under the Creative Communities Scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to support and encourage all local communities to create and present a range of opportunities, for those interested, to be able to access and participate in arts activities within our specific geographical area.

This year Creative NZ has changed how the grant is administered, as previously the grant was basically run by Community Arts Councils. The Buller District Council has established a central Assessment Committee for the whole Buller District. This Committee is made up of two Councillors, one person from each of the Community Arts Councils, of which we have three (Karamea, Buller that covers the Westport area, and Inangahua), plus any other community members that wish to be involved.

Funding criteria

The project you are applying for must meet one or more of the following criteria:

Broad Community Involvement - The project will create opportunities for local communities to engage with and participate in arts activities.
Diversity - The project will support the diverse arts and cultural traditions of local communities, enriching and promoting their uniqueness and cultural diversity.
Young people- The project will enable and encourage young people (under 18 years) to engage with and actively participate in the arts.

Types of projects that could be funded:

Exhibitions, productions, concerts, festivals, workshops and presentations that offer opportunities for community involvement in the arts.
Activities that support the traditions and arts of ethnic communities.
Youth arts events.
Artist-led projects involving local communities.
Materials for arts activities or programmes.
Personnel costs for one-off, short-term projects.
Promotion and publicity of arts activities to communities.

Types of projects that cannot be funded:

Activities that are not arts-focused
Activites that are the direct responsibility of schools or other education institutions.
Ongoing administration costs not related to a specific project.
Projects that are the core business of an organisation or service provider.
Retrospective project costs (for projects already started or completed).
Catering costs of an event.
Fundraising activities.
Developing facilities, such as gallery lights, stage curtains or building restoration.
Buying capital items, such as computers, cameras or musical instruments.

Guide for Applicants

Please contact us if you would like more information.

Application for funding under the Creative Communities Scheme can be downloaded below.

Creative Communities Scheme funding application

Closing date for the next funding round is: 14 February 2011.

In Buller there are three Community Arts Councils which cover the three areas, contact persons for these are

Inangahua Community Arts Council

covering the Inangahua Ward, contact Daisy Sawyers 03 732 8542

Karamea Community Arts Council

covering the Seddon Ward, contact Paul Murray 03 782 6767

Buller Community Arts Council

covering the Westport Ward, contact John Sepie 03 789 6920 or Mary McGill 03 789 7158

Tourism Grants

This is an annual grant to non-profit tourism providers which is allocated through the Annual Plan. Tourism operators need to apply to the Annual Plan for funding that goes towards the day-to-day running of the business.

Annual Plan is usually open for submissions during March each year, with hearings being held in May.

Development West Coast Extraordinary Funding

Buller District Council has been granted an extraordinary distribution of funds from Development West Coast in May 2011 of $2m for the development of community assets and/or projects that will contribute to sustainable economic benefits for the district and West Coast region.

This funding is to be spread over a five year period. All three district councils on the west coast have received this funding and the same terms of agreement.

A minimum threshold of $25,000 applies for this funding pool. Any requests for funding under $25,000 will not be accepted. This is to ensure that projects are of significant size to generate considerable economic and community benefit.

All submissions received will be judged on their merit and presentation of project plans and funding motivations. Each year $400,000 will be granted by the committee. At the discretion of the committee more than $400,000 may be distributed annually.

Types of projects that may be considered for this funding pool include but are not limited to: community asset construction or upgrade, support of major Council projects, projects which foster economic development and/or district promotion, youth initiatives.

It is not envisaged that funding will be given to organisations who normally receive funding from Central Government. Any approved funding will be released progressively as required and Development West Coast must be acknowledged as a funder of the project/ community asset.

The committee will deliberate on the applications received and award funding. The committee will be the Grants Committee which consists of Mayor Pat McManus, Councillors Rosalie Sampson (Chair), Dave Hawes, Jim Halsall and Fred Ratahi.

There will be two funding rounds for this fund in 2012, applications will be received from 1 - 30 March 2012 and from 2 - 27 July 2012. Late applications will not be accepted.

Applications to this fund can be submitted any time to Buller District Council offices in Westport or Reefton, posted to Buller District Council, PO Box 21, Westport 7866. Any applications received will be held to the following meeting. If you have any questions about this fund please contact Wendy on 03 788 9656.

Eligibility criteria
Application Form

If you would like a Word version of the application form please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to request this document.

Rural Travel Fund (SPARC)

The SPARC Rural Travel Fund is open to rural sports clubs and school teams who require subsidies to assist with transport expenses to local sporting competitions.

This funding is allocated once a year in conjunction with the February Community Grants funding round.

Application forms and further information are available from Council offices in Westport and Reefton, or by calling Customer Services on 788 9111. An application pack can be downloaded below.

Applications for the 2012 year have closed. Applications will be called in early January 2013.

SPARC Rural Travel Fund Application

Councillor Minor Grants

A pool of funds has been allocated to enable the Mayor and Councillors to respond to requests for minor financial assistance or support for local projects and fundraising.

Councillor Minor Grants are not advertised but are available to any individual or group. Applications can be made for this grant at any time, as each Councillor receives $300 per financial year to grant at their discretion.

The community grants committee annually allocates a small funding pool to assist in subsidising hire costs of Council facilities for non-profit community events. This is part of Council's own community grants fund, budgeted for each year within its Annual Plan. Applications are taken throughout the year, dependent on funds remaining in the grant pool. The fund is designed to assist with one-off events, and is not available for commercial activities.

Application forms and further information are available from Council offices in Westport and Reefton, or by calling Customer Services on 03 788 9111. An application form can be downloaded below.

A pool of funds has been allocated to enable the Mayor and Councillors to respond to requests for minor financial assistance or support for local projects and fundraising. Councillor Minor Grants are not advertised but are available to any individual or group. Applications can be made for this grant at any time, as each Councillor receives $300 per financial year to grant at their discretion.

Councillor Minor Grant Application

National Representation Assistance

A grant is payable to any person residing in the Buller District and also to any primary or secondary student attending boarding school whose parents reside in the Buller District who are selected by a recognised bona-fide national body/association or organisation to represent New Zealand within New Zealand or to represent New Zealand overseas.

The policy is not intended to provide funding for selection of area or district representatives who are attending a meeting or symposium type event as part of national representation at an international forum. Grants are to be considered on an application basis as per Council's official form, with the value of grant to be determined by Council.

Each individual person is to be eligible for no more than two grants, one representing New Zealand internally and one representing New Zealand overseas.

The level of the grant to be reviewed by Council from time to time with the present maximum level being:

Representing New Zealand overseas - $1,000
Representing New Zealand internally - $400

National Representation Assistance Application

Community Facilities Hire Subsidy