Eligibility for the Waterway Protection Fund (WPF)

Who can apply for the WPF

Funding is available to all landowners, including farmers and lifestyle block owners, community and environmental groups operating within the targeted catchments.

You are eligible to apply for further funding for the next stage of your project, if you have an existing grant and you have spent the funding as agreed.

What you can apply for

The fund targets:

• protection, enhancement or restoration of streams, waterways, wetlands and riparian margins
• reduction of contaminants by:
• fencing to exclude livestock and enhance riparian buffers
• provision of alternative water supplies
• planting native plants along watercourses.

What the WPF will not fund

We will not fund:

• a project that may lead to a conflict of interest for us as a consent authority
• activities or work that have already started or been completed (funding is not retrospective)
• projects on public land
• fencing or planting that is a condition of a current or future resource consent, e.g. subdivision consents.

Read more information about activities we don't fund

WPF assessment criteria

We will assess your grant application against:

• the type of environmental benefits, including improved water quality and aquatic ecological health
• the type and total area of the environment and the length of riparian margin that your project or activity will protect
• the extent of community involvement in leading the project or participation in the project
• connection with other landowners to form partnerships and share knowledge.