Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust — Property Programme (new builds and renovations)

Before you apply

This is the route for a new kōhanga reo building, and it runs through the Trust, not through an open grant round. The Trust's property page (last updated 19 December 2025) says that if a kōhanga is in the 2026 programme its District Manager will be in touch, and that a kōhanga not in it can still be considered for 2027. It describes no application form. The case is built with the District Manager, using enrolments and forecast growth, the condition of the property, and lease or consent information.

Check who owns the land and building before anything else. The Trust's Property Policy (effective 1 December 2024, linked from the page) says it applies to “Trust owned property” and to “Leased properties where the lease specifically requires the Trust to maintain the property”. It then says it does not apply to “third party owned properties including but not limited to properties owned by: Incorporated societies (including Kōhanga that are incorporated societies) and trusts. Marae. Leased properties where the lease does not require the Trust to maintain the property.” A whānau planning a build on marae or trust land should ask its District Manager what that means for them before spending on plans.

The Trust cannot fund it all. The policy says the Trust “Is not able to fully fund annual property programmes” and will “Require whānau to contribute to property projects and seek third party funding to support property developments.” That is where community trusts, gaming trusts and the Lottery Fund come in for the balance.

The policy defines new or replacement build projects as “building a new kōhanga reo or replacing an existing kōhanga reo.” Every approved project needs a Kaupapa property agreement, which commits the whānau to a property maintenance fund of 2.5% of the base Kaupapa grant.

Starting a brand-new kōhanga reo is a different process. The Trust's page on establishing a kōhanga reo (kohanga.ac.nz/mokopuna-me-te-whanau/te-whakatu-koohanga-reo) starts with contacting the local Tari ā-Rohe (District Office), then whānau wānanga, the local Purapura, and a Tūtohinga (charter) approved by the Board. It says buildings are scarce and the District Office can advise on premises.

National Office: 04 381 8750, 67 Hankey Street, Mount Cook, Wellington. The page gives a Property team email address behind a spam filter, so use the Contact Us page or ask your District Manager. The copy of the policy on the page is dated December 2024 and says it is reviewed annually, so ask for the current version.

The Ministry of Education does not run a separate new-build round. Its Budget 2024 page says it is “Investing $12 million over 4 years in kōhanga reo property maintenance” to “assist Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust to maintain and upgrade properties”. That is operating funding paid through the Trust, and the page describes no application process. The Ministry's ECE funding handbook page for kōhanga reo covers operating subsidies only. Both pages were read on 8 October 2026.