Council boosts community funding by $100,000 - applications open
Published on 09 July 2025
Whanganui District Council is increasing its investment in the health, safety and wellbeing of the community with a significant funding boost to its Community Contracts programme. Applications for the 2025/26 round opened on Monday, 1 July.
This year, the council has committed $250,000 to support local organisations, up from $150,000 last year. Of this, $200,000 will be distributed to support the day-to-day work of not-for-profit, charitable and voluntary groups. A further $50,000 has been allocated for partnerships with agencies delivering new major projects of district-wide significance.
Community contracts help organisations deliver vital services that contribute to the long-term goals set out in the council’s Leading Edge Strategy and Safer Whanganui vision – including improving equity, enhancing community resilience, and making Whanganui a positive place to live, learn, work and play.
Council community wellbeing manager Lauren Tamehana says this year’s funding increase reflects a continued commitment to backing the community sector.
“Our community is full of enthusiastic people doing incredible work. The increased funding reflects the council’s ongoing commitment to partnering with those who are making a real difference,” she says.
In 2024, 19 community groups received a combined $100,000 through Community Contracts, supporting a broad range of initiatives such as youth development, whānau support, safety, inclusion and cultural connection. Another $50,000 was invested in two large-scale community partnership projects.
Josh Chandulal-Mackay, co-chair of the council’s Projects and Grants Committee, says the contribution made by local organisations cannot be overstated.
“The last few years have been tough on our community sector with rising costs and funding reductions. The council has increased its community funding in the 2024–2034 Long-Term Plan, because we want to ensure that our community sector is supported to continue providing vital services.
“We know that community organisations are the glue that keeps our community strong. They work on the frontlines to support our vulnerable, connect newcomers, improve environmental outcomes, provide advocacy, and support people to thrive,” he says.
The Whanganui Women’s Network received $8000 last year. Women’s Network manager Carla Donson says the network team is incredibly grateful to regularly receive support from the fund.
“Primarily, the funding enables us to deliver our annual unique-in-New Zealand 'La Fiesta: NZ's Best Women's Fest' to our community each summer.
“As a completely independent grassroots non-government organisation, we rely on charitable grant funding like this so that we can continue to deliver activities, projects and services to women and girls across Whanganui. Lauren and the team are approachable and will offer you the encouragement that you need to apply,” Carla Donson says.
If you are applying for this funding for the first time, you must first register your organisation online to provide the council with some background on its work and structure. Returning applicants can log in and start a new application using their existing details.
The council encourages early engagement from any groups wanting to check eligibility or needing help with their application. For support with your application, contact Lauren Tamehana via email.
Full details, including eligibility criteria and the application portal, can be found on the council website.
Applications close on Thursday, 31 July 2025.