Ngā Hua / Outcomes

Organisations receiving grants are expected to show how their community facility will help the community, while also ensuring that:

• community facilities are safe, comfortable and accessible, contributing to the well-being of communities.
• people are engaged with the facility through activities that increasingly improve community relationships and connections.
• investment in facilities enables community groups to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Ngā kaupapa matua / Priorities

Grant decisions are made by the Lottery Community Facilities Committee. Grant requests should show how your project:

• supports the aspirations of Māori.
• supports cultural identity and aspirations of Pacific peoples and ethnic communities.
• is led by community, whānau, hapū or iwi.
• provides access for rural, isolated or marginalised communities to connect and participate.
• delivers a well-used facility that provides opportunities for social, recreational, community or cultural participation.

Ngā kaupapa ka tautokona ā-pūtea / What we fund

The following may be funded:

• projects to build new community buildings or facilities
• projects to improve or enlarge existing community facilities
• feasibility studies to work out if planned projects are needed, can be achieved and fit the long-term vision for the community
• Seismic assessments.
• building purchases (but only if this is a better and less costly option than building a new facility).

Building or renovation project costs may include:

• earthquake strengthening or building extensions and new construction projects
• improving or adding kitchens and/or bathrooms, including ovens, fridges and dishwashers
• professional fees for architecture, quantity surveying and/or for managing the project
• professional fees for a suitably qualified project manager, who is not part of the decision-making group for the project.

Requests must show robust project planning has been done for the type of facility, that it improves opportunities for people to participate in community activities and has wide community support.

The Committee is more likely to fund requests that show the project:

• has strong governance and financial management
• involves tradespeople who are qualified or experienced to do the work
• meets all of the regulations and requirements for building, health and safety
• provides access for disabled people
• provides essential services, such as plumbing, waste water and sewerage systems, and electricity and fire protection
• has support from your community, such as people ready to work as volunteers.

The Committee will want to know that the person in charge of your project has the right qualifications and experience for the type of project you are planning. This may be a volunteer or a paid professional project manager who will regularly report to the project’s decision-making group. They must not be a member of the project’s decision-making group.

You also need to show how your project will meet the correct standards for building or renovating community facilities to make them fully functional, safe and meet any requirements.

Project feasibility studies

Funding requests for projects with a total cost of $250,000 or more must generally provide a study showing whether the project is feasible or not. 

A feasibility study may not be required if the project does not require any consents, permits, or is straightforward or the project has progressed to a point where a feasibility study would not add any value.

Please contact a Lottery Community Facilities Advisor to discuss whether or not your project requires a feasibility study.

A Lottery Community Facilities Fund Advisor can be contacted at: Lottery Community Facilities Fund email

Important dates for the Lottery Community Facilities Fund

The next important dates for the Lottery Community Facilities fund are linked below:

• Important dates

Ngā kaupapa kāore e tautokona ā-pūtea / What we don't fund

In addition to what may not be funded by any Lottery Committee, Lottery Community Facilities also does not fund:

• building projects or equipment purchases where the total project cost is $50,000 or less (requests for minor capital works like these should be made to Lottery Community)
• individual people
• activities not directly related to building or improving a community facility, such as:
  • corporate boxes and hospitality suites
  • roading and car parks that are not on the community facility’s land
  • housing projects for individuals, including resthome projects
  • landscaping
  • routine maintenance and operating expenses, such as administration or staffing
  • equipment purchases that are not part of a larger capital works project, are not needed to make a facility functional, or do not contribute to finishing a capital works project (such as sports, computer or art equipment, or musical instruments)
• purchases of bare land.