This fund supports collaborative, community scale projects that improve, protect, and celebrate urban waterways in Ōtautahi and contribute to the work of the Community Waterways Partnership.
Apply for the Community Waterways Partnership Fund
The Community Waterways Partnership Fund is open until midday on 18 September 2026. Applicants will be notified of their funding decision in mid-October.
Applications are encouraged to demonstrate clear alignment with the Community Waterways Partnership Action Plan(external link).
To be eligible for funding, proposed initiatives must align with one or more of the following criteria. Applications that demonstrate alignment across multiple criteria may be given priority.
Ecological health and Indigenous biodiversity
Projects that contribute to the restoration or enhancement of the ecological health of urban waterways, including:
- Improving water quality, habitat restoration, erosion control, or stormwater management, including nature-based approaches.
- Protecting, restoring, or enhancing indigenous (native) species and ecosystems within the urban waterway environment.
Cultural significance
- Projects that acknowledge and incorporate cultural values, particularly those of Mana Whenua, such as recognising water as a sacred resource and upholding mahinga kai.
- Evidence of collaboration or partnership with Mana Whenua will strengthen applications. Projects that incorporate mātauranga Māori and support Mana Whenua-led environmental outcomes are encouraged.
Community involvement
Projects that enhance the public’s ability to experience, enjoy, and connect with urban waterways in ways that are compatible with ecological and cultural values, while demonstrating strong community involvement. This may include:
- Being community‑led or demonstrating meaningful community engagement, ownership, and capacity‑building.
- Supporting long‑term stewardship that reflects community needs and aspirations.
- Enhancing amenity values and connection to place.
Education, awareness and engagement
Projects that increase understanding of urban waterways and promote positive behaviours that support their protection and restoration. This may include:
- Education or awareness‑raising activities related to waterways, biodiversity, or water quality.
- Sharing knowledge, stories, or monitoring results in accessible ways.
- Engaging wider audiences beyond direct project participants.
Under the comprehensive Stormwater Network discharge Consent, Christchurch City Council has allocated Community Waterways Partnership $60,000 towards a contestable fund in the 2026/2027 financial year.
We aim to support several projects under this fund, so the funding of your project may also need to come from other funding pools.
Funds can be requested for operational aspects (e.g. staff time) and for materials or equipment needed to successfully deliver the project benefits. Applications seeking to purchase equipment will need to have quotes. You will be required to provide proof of purchase with your end-of-project report.
Organisations that are GST-registered should be aware that this grant is an unconditional gift and does not attract GST. All amounts are effectively exclusive of GST. GST will not be paid.
Who can apply
- Community groups, individuals, schools, social enterprises, and businesses can apply to this fund.
- Preference will be given to those who have signed up with the Community Waterways Partnership.
- Generally, applications led by government organisations will not be considered. However, partnerships involving government organisations may participate as partners in community or non-government-led projects.
- Only one application per organisation will normally be accepted by this fund each Council financial year (July to June).
Proposals will be assessed against the following evaluation criteria.
Applications should provide specific and detailed information addressing the criteria below
|
Evaluation criteria |
Key questions to consider in your application |
|---|---|
| Relevance Alignment with the Community Waterways Partnership's Action Plan and Fund Eligibility Criteria |
|
| Benefit The nature and scale of the public good being delivered |
|
| Deliverable Project readiness and feasibility |
|
| Measurable Clear measures of success |
|
| Legacy Ongoing benefit beyond the funding period |
|
Before funding is allocated to successful projects, applicants will be required to sign Council’s agreement.
Reporting
If you receive a grant from Christchurch City Council, you are required to provide reporting. This is a condition of the Community grants terms and conditions [PDF, 35 KB] that you agree to before receiving a grant.
You are required to spend the grant as per the resolution on the funding agreement. Any variation to this, not previously agreed to by Council, will mean you will have to return the money.
The same applies if you have finished your project and have not spent all of the grants, you will be required to return the unspent money.
Future funding can be withheld if reporting requirements are not met.
End-of-project report
Online end-of-project reporting form(external link)
End-of-project reporting is due when funding is spent or 13 months after the money was granted.
Applicants are encouraged to approach other funds that may be more suited to specific proposals:
- The Council provides a wide range of community funds(external link) for community, art and event-related projects.
- A waste minimisation grant is available from the Canterbury Waste Joint Committee.
- Community Matters(external link) lists a range of funds, including Lotteries Grants.
- Gen Less(external link) provides funds for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
- EECA also provides funds to support increasing the number of low-emission vehicles(external link) in New Zealand.
- The Ministry for the Environment(external link) administers a range of national funds focusing on waste reduction, freshwater quality and community education.
- Rātā Foundation(external link) offers funding for community and environmental projects.
- WWF New Zealand and their partners offer 9Wire for projects that support environmental innovations in New Zealand.
- DOC has compiled a list of funding and grants for community conservation groups(external link).
- The Community Organisation Grants Scheme(external link) provides grants to non-profit organisations delivering community-based social services that contribute to achieving locally-determined outcomes.
- Over 1200 other funding options from government, service organisations, and corporate and philanthropic trusts are listed online.
- 2025–2026 Community Waterways Partnership Fund [PDF, 48 KB]
- 2024–2025 Community Waterways Partnership Fund [PDF, 82 KB]
