The 2026 funding round opens Monday 23 March and closes on Monday 27 April.

The Matariki Community Grant supports community initiatives that celebrate and acknowledge Matariki. These funds will support opportunities for the community to engage with te ao Māori through art, storytelling, film, entertainment, discussions, performances, and food.

The funding will be allocated on a contestable basis, with applications evaluated against the same criteria. Decisions will be made by a panel with relevant experience.

Criteria

The 2026 funding round opens Monday 23 March and closes on of 27 April.

The Matariki Community Grant supports community initiatives that celebrate and acknowledge Matariki. These funds will support opportunities for the community to engage with te ao Māori through art, storytelling, film, entertainment, discussions, performances, and food.

The funding will be allocated on a contestable basis, with applications evaluated against the same criteria. Decisions will be made by a panel with relevant experience.


The fund aims to create and support environments where communities can come together to participate in Matariki through the following categories: How will your activity, event or project create and support environments where communities can come together to participate in Matariki.

  • Hapori, Community
  • Te Reo Māori, Māori Language
  • Kai, Food
  • Tīkanga Māori, Māori Traditions
  • Kiriata, Film
  • Wānanga, Workshops
  • Kōrero, Lectures/presentations
  • Whakangahau, Entertainment
  • Mahi toi, Arts
  • Whare tapere, Theatre
  • Taiao, Environment
  • He kaupapa anō, Other


What won’t be funded?

  • Individual people or private events
  • Individual businesses, government agencies or departments, or political parties. 
  • Activities, events or projects held out of the Nelson boundary.
  • Any activity which has not been approved as part of the grant conditions, such as using the grant as a fundraising source or debt repayment.
  • Duplication of existing public or private programmes operating close to each other. 
  • Funding activities that involve any alcohol, tobacco, illegal substances, and gambling. 
  • Expenses incurred out of the region such as transport or accommodation. 
  • Public services that are the responsibility of central government (e.g. core education, primary health care). 
  • Projects already funded by Council, or where funding has been allocated through other
  • sources for the same activity.
  • Ongoing support of ‘business as usual’ activities such as the running costs of existing activities of organisations, groups, or individuals.
  • Professional fundraising services. 
  • Activities already completed. 

You can apply for a Matariki Community Grant here (this will redirect you to a SmartyGrants form).

All submissions (including your name and contact details) will be provided to Council workers for administration and analysing feedback, and to those who are involved in decision making on the consultation.

All submissions, including submitter names (unless you request otherwise) but not contact details, may be publicly available online. It is your responsibility to ensure your submission does not include any personal information that you do not want published.

Note: Council is subject to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 and a request for official information may cover your submission, including your address and other contact details.

You may be contacted following this consultation to find out about your experience of the engagement process.