Tēnā koe, ōtira, tēnā koutou,

Administered by Manatū Taonga – the Ministry for Culture & Heritage, the Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund (the Fund) is available to support events organised by local government and/or communities in partnership with tangata whenua that invite wide community participation to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

This year, to acknowledge the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty, the criteria of the Fund has been extended to include events that may fall on the date the Treaty was signed in your area.

You can apply to the fund for events that are themed on the commemoration of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and that:

• promote nation and community building;
• encourage wide community participation;
• promote a cultural experience;
• take place on or near Waitangi Day (6 February), or on a date related to the date the Treaty was signed in your area.

Mid-to long-term Treaty of Waitangi resource and education projects, such as seminars, workshops and hui do not come under this Fund.  Funding is not available for travel to Waitangi, Bay of Islands. Funding is also not available to cover the purchase of alcohol.

Applications for grants for next year’s Waitangi Day events close on 19 September 2014.

Further information can be found at: http://www.mch.govt.nz/funding-nz-culture/ministry-grants-awards/commemorating-waitangi-day-fund.

Manatū Taonga is also coordinating the Government’s wider approach to commemorating the 175th anniversary. We will be providing information about events taking place around the country on our website. If you wish to promote the events taking place in your region please email waitangi.fund@mch.govt.nz with the details.

If you have any enquiries about the Fund, please contact me on (04) 496 6352, Kartini Havell on (04) 495 9293, or email waitangi.fund@mch.govt.nz.