Wednesday, 01 July 2026
QLDC awards $461,000 to community groups, events and heritage projects
QLDC has awarded funding to 30 local groups and organisations, 15 commercial and community events, and one heritage project.
Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has awarded funding to 30 local groups and organisations, 15 commercial and community events, and one heritage project through its latest community funding round.
A total of $461,000 was awarded through the Community Fund, Events Fund and Heritage Incentive Grant, supporting initiatives that benefit communities and strengthen local wellbeing across the district.
Applications for all three funds closed on 30 April and were assessed during May, with funding decisions approved by Full Council at the 25 June meeting ahead of successful applicants being notified on 1 July.
QLDC Community Partnerships Manager Marie Day said the funding reflects the diversity and drive of the district’s community sector.
“We’re proud to support a broad mix of groups and projects that contribute to the wellbeing of our communities and the places we care about,” said Ms Day.
“From grassroots community initiatives to large-scale events and important heritage preservation work, these funds help enable the people and organisations who bring our district to life.”
Ms Day acknowledged the strong demand for funding and the high quality of applications received.
“We were able to support 30 local groups and organisations through the Community Fund this year with total funding increasing from $180,000 to $208,000,” she said.
“This was made possible through additional operational funding, strategically aligned to priority projects, including contributions to Ngā Uri Whakatipu Charitable Trust, KiwiHarvest and The Weekday Challenge.
“Each year we see a growing number of groups doing incredible work throughout the district. While we’re unable to fund every application through these funding rounds, we’re grateful to everyone who applied and continues to make a positive contribution to our communities.”
QLDC Relationship Manager, Arts and Events Jan Maxwell said this year’s Event Fund had a total pool of $250,000 available to support events across the district, helping organisers improve sustainability practices, reduce waste, and deliver memorable community experiences.
“We’ve been able to award grants to 15 events taking place across the district including Challenge Wānaka, Queenstown Multicultural Festival, Central Lakes Polyfest, New Zealand Mountain Film Festival, Global Games, Arrowtown Autumn Festival, and Wānaka Festival of Colour,” said Mrs Maxwell.
“These events bring people together, celebrate our district and create lasting benefits for residents and visitors alike.”
As part of the funding round, QLDC also supported applicants through The Funding Series workshops.
Delivered in partnership with huddl, Three Lakes Cultural Trust, Sport Otago and the Conservation Alliance, the workshops provide practical guidance on preparing funding applications, building organisational capability, and planning for long-term sustainability.
Ms Day said the workshops play an important role in helping groups put forward strong applications and develop their skills beyond a single funding round.
“We want to support community organisations not just with funding, but with the tools and confidence to succeed. The Funding Series helps build capability across the sector and supports groups to plan for the future,” she said.
Full lists of recipients and grant allocations for the Community Fund, Events Fund and Heritage Incentive Grant are available on the QLDC website.
About the funds
Community Fund
Supports not-for-profits, charities and community groups working to enhance local wellbeing across the district, including both operational and project costs.
Events Fund
Supports events that bring people together and deliver social, cultural, and economic benefits to the community, with a strong focus on inclusivity and sustainability.
Heritage Incentive Grant
Provides funding for the preservation and enhancement of Queenstown Lakes’ natural and built heritage, including professional advice, consent costs, and maintenance work.
ENDS | KUA MUTU
Media contact: 03 441 1802
FURTHER INFORMATION | Kā pāroko tāpiri
Demand for the QLDC Community Fund remains high, with 66 applications received this year requesting close to $900,000 in support across a mix of operational and project funding.
QLDC received 23 applications to the Events Fund 2026-2027, requesting a total of $645,686 in grants.
The Heritage Incentive Grant supported one project this round, with $3,000 awarded towards the preservation of a Category 2 listed heritage building on a private residential site in Wānaka.
Operational funding remains one of the most consistently identified gaps in the community funding landscape. Many national and philanthropic funders focus on project costs only, which can leave everyday expenses like rent, utilities, administration, governance, and core staffing under-supported. QLDC is one of a small number of funders in the district that offers operational funding through the Community Fund, and demand for this type of support continues to grow.
QLDC has also allocated funding through its Waste Minimisation Community Fund (WMCF), supporting initiatives that reduce waste sent to landfill, encourage smarter resource use, and move the district closer to its zero-waste goal. Details will be shared separately soon.