Lottery Funding for Community Facilities

Before you apply

Partnership funding is not the same as cash, and this is the most useful thing on the page. DIA accept cash donations and confirmed sponsorships, grants other than previous Lottery grants, loans that can be serviced independently of the grant, internal funds, in-kind contributions supported by evidence of their value, verified project costs already incurred such as consents obtained within the past two years, and land acquired for the project where ownership and value can be evidenced.

And where a market value cannot reasonably be established, volunteer labour may be valued at the current New Zealand Living Wage. A marae with people and no pūtea can often meet the requirement without finding a dollar. Add up what you already hold before ruling it out. It must be secured before you apply.

Two separate applications, and you cannot combine them. Planning is one — feasibility studies, needs assessments, business cases, concept designs, preliminary architectural drawings, engineering assessments, quantity surveying estimates, conservation plans and heritage assessments, geotechnical investigations, site surveys. Delivery is the other — construction, upgrades, extensions, restoration and conservation, accessibility improvements like ramps and accessible toilets, site works, essential fit-out, landscaping, built-in kitchens, bathrooms, plumbing, electrical and heating, professional fees, and fixed equipment integral to the facility including commercial kitchens.

Studies or reports that started before you applied cannot be funded. Neither can construction under a planning application, housing or residential accommodation, replacement furniture and movable assets, general operating costs, or establishing a marae on land not reserved for marae purposes.

What is required scales with the request. Under $100,000: two quotes for each major cost item, a budget, land ownership or permission, and one person overseeing the project paid or unpaid. From $100,000: add a project brief, timeline, insurance, concept drawings, and partnership funding secured. Over $250,000: add a maintenance plan, a completed feasibility study, a required project manager, and a quantity surveyor’s report.

All quotes must be no more than four months old when you submit. Resource and building consents should be in place before funding is released, though funding may be approved subject to obtaining them.

Four rounds a year. First-time applicants are advised to ring a Community Advisor before applying — 0800 824 824 or community.matters@dia.govt.nz.

This replaced Oranga Marae, which was scrapped on 1 July 2026 and is listed separately here.

Kōhanga reo and early learning buildings. As at 8 October 2026 the DIA page does not mention kōhanga reo or early learning centres either way, in what may or may not be funded. It does say Lottery funding “is not intended to replace or subsidise Ministry of Education funding” for schools, and it names facilities that “enables people to gather, connect, and participate in community life”. Ring a Community Advisor on 0800 824 824 to ask before preparing an application for a kōhanga building.