Biodiversity funding and support in our region

Open access to funding and support

There is a wealth of support available to residents in our region to reach environmental goals.

Let’s improve our environment one step at a time, together.

Region-wide	Kāpiti Coast	Porirua	Upper Hutt
Wellington City	Wairarapa	Hutt City

 Region wide

QEII Open Space Covenant

You can create legal protection around natural and cultural features on your land through QEII open space covenants. This can involve fencing off areas, protection that lasts in perpetuity, and preventing development on the land. Terms are agreed on a case by case basis. This sort of protection is vital to protect important habitats for threatened species, and our region is home to many.

For more information contact the QEII National Trust

Creating Healthy Waterways (streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands)

Greater Wellington works with landowners to help protect, manage and rejuvenate waterways and wetlands in our region. You could be eligible for up to 50% off the cost of fencing, pest plant control, pest animal control and eco-sourced native plants. These sorts of actions can contribute to improved water quality in our whole region.

More information about healthy waterways

Sustainable Land Practices

A great way to protect and enhance biodiversity on your land is by employing sustainable land management practices. Greater Wellington can work with you on a Farm Environment Plan, which involves advice on best-practice sustainability and allows access to a contestable fund. Advice from our team of advisers could mean big improvements on your land for future generations.

For more information contact riparian@gw.govt.nz

Protecting Erosion Prone Land

The Wellington Regional Erosion Control Initiative, or WRECI for short, is to protect erosion prone land in our region. It receives financial support from the Ministry for Primary Industries. Farm plans can be developed for hill country farms and financial assistance is provided for poplar and willow planting, afforestation, reversion retirement and sediment control devices. Much deforestation in modern history has meant parts of our region are erosion prone, and this support is to help prevent that. This is about ensuring land doesn’t disappear under our feet.

More information about WRECI

Pest Control

Greater Wellington is lucky to have a very experienced biosecurity team, with designing the predator control for Predator Free Wellington just one of the things they’re working on. To help everyone in our region to carry out pest control, we offer discounted pest control resources such as rat and possum traps, and help and advice for controlling pest plants.

For further information please contact pest.plants@gw.govt.nz or pest.animals@gw.govt.nz

Eco-sourced Plants

The Akura Conservation Centre sells eco-sourced native tree species suitable for restoration plantings, and native and exotic tree species suitable for shelter, fuelwood, erosion control and timber.

For further information please contact akura@gw.govt.nz

Biodiversity Advice

Greater Wellington Regional Council provides biodiversity management information and education resources for landowners and the community.

For further information please contact biodiversity@gw.govt.nz

Wellington Community Trust Grants

Wellington Community Trust is an independent funder that welcomes funding applications from not-for-profit community organisations in the Wellington region. Funds are awarded to groups working towards the Trust’s vision of ‘Active People, Resilient Communities and Sustainable Environments’.

For further information please contact admin@wct.org.nz

 Kāpiti Coast

Rates Relief for Conservation Purposes

Kāpiti Coast District ratepayers who own land that has some feature of cultural or natural heritage and is voluntarily protected may qualify for remission of rates. For example, properties with a QEII or conservation covenant registered on their certificate of title, or properties with an ecological site listed in the District Plan Heritage Register.

For further information please contact kapiti.council@kapiticoast.govt.nz

Heritage Fund

The Kāpiti Coast District Council’s Heritage Fund aims to assist and actively encourage landowners and members of our community to manage, protect and enhance heritage features throughout the district, including ecological, geological, historical and cultural areas and sites.

For further information please contact kapiti.council@kapiticoast.govt.nz

Riparian Fund

The Kāpiti Coast District Council’s Riparian Fund is an incentive scheme for landowners. The Fund encourages better management of our waterways by preventing stock access through fencing and the permanent retirement of riparian margins to allow the establishment of native vegetation buffers. Up to $5,000 is available on a cost-sharing basis for fencing, plants and site preparation.

For further information please contact kapiti.council@kapiticoast.govt.nz

 Porirua

Community Biodiversity Project Funding

This funding supports community groups to restore, maintain or protect native ecosystems in the wider Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour area (which stretches south to Johnsonville and north to Pukerua Bay). It can be used to buy native plants, plant protectors, fertiliser, and materials and tools. Funding can also be provided for pest plant and animal control, and refreshments for community group working bees. Community groups are working hard to make big improvements in their neighbourhoods, and deserve our support.

More information about community funding

Sievers Grove Nursery

Porirua City Council’s Sievers Grove Nursery offers surplus plants and a wide variety of specialty plant lines at wholesale prices. The plants are grown on site from locally sourced seed and cuttings. The Nursery can provide expert advice on what to plant on your property and how to care for it.

For further information please contact the Nursery Supervisor on 04 237 6893

Predator Free Community Group Support

Porirua City Council provides financial support to neighbourhood pest-free groups.  

For further information please contact enquiries@poriruacity.govt.nz

 Upper Hutt

Community Grants

Upper Hutt City Council’s Community Grants are for community groups either working in Upper Hutt or for community organisations that benefit the residents of Upper Hutt. 

For further information please contact funding@uhcc.govt.nz

Zero Waste and Community Environment Fund

The Upper Hutt City Council Zero Waste and Community Environment fund seeks to support practical sustainability initiatives related to waste minimisation, environmental protection and community resilience.

For further information please contact askus@uhcc.govt.nz

 Wellington City

Natural Environment Fund

Wellington City Council’s Natural Environment Fund supports community environmental projects that help grow the city’s natural capital. This can include protecting the city's indigenous biodiversity, restoring riparian and coastal ecosystems, and connecting people to nature.

For further information please contact funding@wcc.govt.nz

 Wairarapa

Community Biodiversity Project Funding

This funding supports community groups to restore, maintain or protect native ecosystems in the Wairarapa Moana area. It can be used to buy native plants, plant protectors, fertiliser, and materials and tools. Funding can also be provided for pest plant and animal control, and refreshments for community group working bees. Community groups are working hard to make big improvements in their neighbourhoods, and deserve our support.

For further information please contact biodiversity@gw.govt.nz

 Hutt City

Indigenous Biodiversity Grants

Hutt City Council’s Indigenous Biodiversity Grants help Lower Hutt landowners protect, enhance and manage indigenous habitats on their land.

Council can support a range of activities with the grants including pest and weed control, revegetation planting and may include providing materials or expertise. Larger scale projects with an agreed project plan may be eligible for Council funding. Landowners will need to meet basic criteria to qualify.

For further information please contact biodiversity@huttcity.govt.nz or find more information on the Hutt City Council website.

Weed Control

Complimentary weed control is provided by Hutt City Council on private land for the following species: old man’s beard, cathedral bells, banana passionfruit, pampas grass and climbing asparagus. Infestation sites are put on monitoring programs for sustained control. Weed control is also provided for properties on boundaries of reserves.

Simply log your pest plant on the Hutt City website

Predator Control and Restoration Support

Hutt City Council actively promotes predator trapping groups and supplies traps for groups and individuals at no cost. Many of these trapping groups have a presence on https://trap.nz/. Contact us if you want to join one of these groups or if you want to establish a predator free group in a suburb that doesn’t yet have one. Community groups are also supplied with eco-sourced native plants for revegetation projects in key reserves and streams. Hutt City Council is happy to provide advice and recommendations for ecologically sympathetic property management.

For further information please contact contact@huttcity.govt.nz

Rates Relief for Conservation Purposes

Hutt City Council provides rates relief for portions of properties under QEII covenants.

For further information please contact contact@huttcity.govt.nz