Your local idea could make a big difference — environmental funding now open

Across Waitaha Canterbury, local people are taking action to care for the places they live. 

From restoring streams and wetlands to planting native species, protecting biodiversity, controlling pests and weeds, and helping communities respond to environmental challenges, community-led projects are making a difference across the region. 

From 1 September, community groups can apply for funding to help turn their environmental ideas into action. 

Three contestable funds are opening for applications:

• the Waitaha Action to Impact Fund
• Christchurch and Banks Peninsula Biodiversity Fund
• CWMS Action Plan Fund. 

Local action, local impact 

Last year's funding round showed just how much environmental action is happening across Canterbury. 

We received 152 applications, with more than $3.7 million requested across the three funds. A total of $1.1 million was available to support community-led environmental projects. 

The successful projects are now helping communities restore waterways, protect biodiversity, build environmental capability and take practical action in their local areas. 

These projects show that environmental change doesn't always start with a big organisation or a large-scale project. 

Sometimes it starts with a group of people who care about a place and have an idea for making it better. 

Three funds to support community action 

1. Waitaha Action to Impact Fund 

This fund supports a broad range of community-led environmental projects across Waitaha Canterbury. 

Funding could support native planting, pest and weed control, wetland restoration, environmental education, community engagement, climate resilience and other projects that create positive environmental outcomes. 

Find out more about the Waitaha Action to Impact Fund. 

2. CWMS Action Plan Fund 

This fund supports projects that contribute to the goals of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy and help improve freshwater health and local water stewardship. 

Projects could include riparian planting, wetland restoration, catchment planning, freshwater education and community action. 

Find out more about the CWMS Action Plan Fund. 

3. Christchurch and Banks Peninsula Biodiversity Fund 

This fund supports projects in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula that protect and restore indigenous biodiversity. 

Funding could support protecting remnant vegetation, native planting, pest and weed control, and restoring habitat for native species. 

Find out more about the Christchurch and Banks Peninsula Biodiversity Fund. 

Could your idea be next? 

You don't need to have a huge project or a brand-new idea. 

Maybe your group is already caring for a local stream and wants to expand the work. Perhaps you want to restore habitat, protect an important natural area, involve more people in environmental action, or build the skills and knowledge needed to keep the work going. 

If you have an idea that could benefit your local environment and community, we'd like to hear about it. 

Applications are now open and close 11.59pm, 12 October, 2026.