Te Ara Urutau – Climate and Emergency Ready Fund
Grants of NZD5,000–50,000 for community and Māori-led projects that cut carbon emissions in Auckland.
Esta oportunidad está disponible actualmente en inglés.
The current Reducing Our Climate Impact round supports community action on transport, food, energy and participation. Projects can encourage walking, cycling and public transport, provide bike access in underserved communities, or help people work locally to avoid travel. Energy projects can teach efficient energy use and renewable energy, reduce household energy consumption, or help communities improve non-Council facilities such as halls and marae.
Food projects can help people eat more plant-based meals or reconnect with indigenous food traditions, including projects grounded in mātauranga Māori, Māori knowledge. A community garden needs planned education and behaviour change towards plant-based meals and a way to evaluate its impact. Regenerative soil-health projects need a scientific method of showing improvement. Soil carbon sequestration may also be supported. Community education, networks, events and skills such as bike maintenance and cooking demonstrations can qualify when they reduce emissions.
This is competitive funding. Auckland Council assesses alignment with the guidelines, ability to deliver and sustain the project, Māori outcomes, community engagement and equity, and overall impact, reach and innovation. Diverse partnerships and Māori-led projects are encouraged. Explain the benefits for communities facing significant climate risks or the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Priority communities include seniors and youth, refugees and recent migrants, disabled residents, geographically isolated communities, Rainbow communities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, Māori and Pasifika communities, and communities vulnerable to flooding, sea-level rise or heat.
Eligibility
- Community, not-for-profit, charitable and voluntary groups; mana whenua and Māori organisations; neighbourhood or resident groups; and two or more schools working together on a community project can apply. Business improvement districts, associations and social enterprises can apply for projects delivering community or public benefit. Social enterprises must explain their organisation’s public-good focus.
- The fund serves community organisations across Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland. Projects must primarily benefit Auckland and the public, rather than private individuals. A group can submit only one application in each round. An established not-for-profit can act as an umbrella fundholder for an unincorporated, unregistered or new group; contact Council if you need help arranging this.
- For requests above NZD15,000, the project should have tangible or clearly measurable effects on community participation and emissions reduction. Provide additional project planning, monitoring and evaluation information.
- Solar projects are generally supported only in specific circumstances involving geographic isolation and/or replacing existing fossil-fuel-generated energy. Discuss a solar proposal with Council staff before applying.
- Funding excludes work already delivered; construction without a permit when undertaken during the grant term; services that duplicate or are primarily government’s responsibility; and projects better suited to other Council grants. Debt servicing or repayment, religious ministry, political or fundraising purposes, legal or medical expenses, alcohol, vehicles and vehicle-related expenses are excluded. Ongoing costs and subscriptions need a project-specific event or outcome. Primarily research-focused projects that are not community-based are excluded.
Use any grant solely for the activity described in your application. Council may later decline the application or request a refund if the information supplied is incorrect. Disclose perceived, potential or actual conflicts of interest; where in doubt, declare the conflict and explain it in the form.
How to apply
- Estado
- cierra 16 nov 2026
- Abre
- Cierra
- Condiciones de la convocatoria
- Reducing Our Climate Impact round: community and Māori-led projects that reduce emissions.[^c3]
Apply through Auckland Council’s SmartyGrants portal. First-time applicants select “Start a Submission” and then “Register here”. Before starting, check eligibility, complete the linked funding pathway finder, read the current guidelines and prepare your project information and supporting documents. For help, email funding@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or call 09 301 0101 during business hours.
Describe your project, community needs and engagement, intended outcomes and alignment with the fund’s priorities. Explain your experience delivering similar projects, the physical change or behaviour change that will reduce climate impact, and the number of people you hope to engage. Outline your contribution to Māori environmental and future wellbeing outcomes, including iwi representation, as requested in the form. Include a project plan and milestones. Give a budget inclusive of GST, showing all expenses, other funders’ contributions and contributions of unpaid time or resources. Attach a quote or other price evidence for each item above NZD150. For a larger request, include the additional planning and evaluation information described above. If Council can fund only part of your project, state the minimum viable contribution and which activities you would prefer it to support.
Successful applicants must return a signed funding agreement before payment. Agreements are anticipated to start by 1 April 2027 or sooner. The agreement sets the reporting requirements and Council can agree a suitable reporting format.
Submit an accountability report with paid invoices and receipts within 60 days after your activity finishes. All projects report dates, locations, expenditure, participation and volunteer hours, activities delivered, changes to plans, contribution to emissions reduction or resilience, partnerships and any Māori outcomes, learning, and how Council support was acknowledged. Keep project records, spending evidence, activity and attendance logs, and relevant communications and media. Report the measures relevant to your project’s climate themes; record the method, assumptions and sources behind estimated emissions reductions or resilience benefits.
Successful projects may be publicised. Products created with funding may be shared on Council websites or with other community groups when discussed with you and included in your agreement. Confirm permission for Council to use supplied media and to publish and share project data in the completion report. Applicant names, legal status and project summaries may be presented at a public local-board workshop; addresses and contact details are excluded. Obtain the consent of people whose details you provide.