Primary Sector Growth Fund

Before you apply

Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnership is observed across the PSGF and is embedded within each of the four assessment criteria. That is MPI’s own wording, and for a Māori entity it means the Tiriti dimension belongs in every section of the application rather than in a paragraph of its own.

The threshold is the thing to check first. Minimum $250,000 of government investment matched by $375,000 of yours, so the smallest realistic project is around $625,000. Smaller proposals are considered only by exception where the rationale is compelling. If your project is under that, the Māori Agribusiness Innovation Fund at up to $250,000 is the better doorway and is listed here.

Your co-investment cannot include other Crown funding. Cash is preferred; in-kind is considered case by case and must be central to delivery.

Two stages, and the first is cheap. An expression of interest takes under four hours and gets you early feedback on fit. A full application, if invited, takes days to weeks. Do the EOI before committing to anything.

Assessed on net benefits to New Zealand, rationale for Crown funding, project plan, and ability to deliver. MPI want substantiated evidence — proposals based on high-level or aspirational claims are unlikely to succeed. It will not fund work an organisation would be expected to do as core business, anything entirely export-focused, or capital that subsidises commercial operations. Pilot capital for a prototype or new product development is fine. Replaced Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures in May 2025.