Natural Heritage Fund applications open for 2026 projects

Guido Haag of Ecoworks NZ holds a fully automatic AT220 possum and rat trap. In 2024, around 30 of these traps were bought using Natural Heritage funding and put in an area of bush on a Motu farm. Photo / Supplied

A new $100,000 round of funding is available for environmental projects that enhance native biodiversity on private land and whenua Māori.

Gisborne District Council (GDC) began inviting applications from landowners and community groups for the 2026 Natural Heritage Fund (NHF) on Tuesday.

In a statement, the council’s senior regional biodiversity adviser, Melanie Cheetham, said protecting biodiversity is a significant responsibility for councils.

“This fund helps support local efforts to restore and protect native ecosystems,” she said.

“It recognises the vital role landowners play as kaitiaki [guardians] of the region’s natural heritage.”

In 2024, it contributed to 20 projects, including a network of around 30 fully automatic possum traps on a piece of farmland in Motu.

Ecoworks NZ’s Steve Sawyer said the 800ha plot of forest is home to six pairs of kiwi, as well as long-tailed bats, North Island robins, riflemen, Hochstetter’s frogs and Raukūmara tusk wētā.

“It’s quite an important area, particularly for our kiwi, so that’s why we got support from GDC to protect it,” Sawyer said.

He called the NHF “hugely beneficial”, noting that biodiversity projects on private farmland are often difficult to get funding for.

Other projects funded in 2024 included wetland restoration in Ngātapa, stock exclusion fencing in Te Karaka, and indigenous planting in Okitū.

Over the past 11 years, $700,000 was allocated toward “native planting, pest and weed control and stock exclusion fencing”.

According to a 2024 council meeting agenda, NHF demand consistently exceeded the funding available. The 36 applications the GDC received in 2024 totalled $512,111.

The GDC said this demonstrated “a consistent level of interest and demand from the community for investment in biodiversity improvement”.

Applications close on August 20.