Bursaries, scholarships & funding

The Outward Bound Scholarship is for people aged 18-26 years inclusive (21 day standard course) Southland District Council will sponsor one person's course and travel fees. Applicants and/or their parents or guardians must currently live in the Southland District Council area and have done so for at least two consecutive years before applying.

For people aged 27 years & over (compact 9 day course) Southland District Council will sponsor one person in this category. Sponsorship covers course fees only. Recipients are responsible for their own travel arrangements. Applicants and/or their parents or guardians must currently live in the Southland District Council area and have done so for at least two consecutive years before applying.

Closing date: 20 December each year

Valmai Robertson - Creative New Zealand Arts Scholarship is to encourage and assist Southland District residents who participate in the field of dance to further develop their skills through attending courses, workshops, schools or other. The maximum assistance provided to any individual whether in one grant or cumulatively will not exceed $500.

Applicants and/or their parents or guardians must currently live in the Southland District Council area and have done so for at least two consecutive years before applying.

Closing date: 20 December each year

Grants are available from the Stewart Island/Rakiura Visitor Levy Fund to support:

• Activities and facilities used by, or for the benefit of, visitors to Stewart Island.
• Activities and facilities that mitigate the adverse effects of visitors on the environment of Stewart Island.

Allocation decisions are made by the Stewart Island/Rakiura Visitor Levy Committee. Funding applications must show alignment with the Southland Murihiku Destination Strategy 2019-2029 

Closing date: second Friday of May each year.

The Southland District Council awards two bursaries annually with successful applicants receiving up to $2000 each. The bursaries can be held for one year only. Applicants must be academically qualified for admission to a tertiary educational institution; no restriction will be placed on the particular course of study followed. Applicants are restricted to those about to start the first or second year of tertiary education (this includes mature students). Applicants and/or their parents or guardians must currently live in the Southland District Council area and have done so for at least two consecutive years before applying.

Closing date: 20 December each year

The Southland Newcomer Leadership Scholarship is a contestable fund for ethnic newcomers to access funding to attend the Southland Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Academy.

The Community Partnership Fund supports an array of local initiatives and projects. The Southland District’s nine community boards are responsible for approving grants from their respective funds, and each has developed individual criteria for applications. Epitomising the concept of community-led development, the funds have a positive impact – in the community, for the community. Find out more.

The rural travel fund assists with transport expenses associated with participating in regular local competitions. Sports clubs and school-based clubs with young people aged between 5-19 years are eligible to apply.

Closing dates: Two rounds per year closing 31 March and 30 September

The purpose of the Southland District Council Creative Communities Scheme is to:

• increase participation in the arts at a local level
• increase the range and diversity of arts available to communities

Both groups and individuals involved with arts/culture may apply for a grant subsidy for projects that benefit local communities in the area administered by the Southland District Council.

Closing dates: Two rounds per year closing 31 March and 30 September

The Northern Southland Development Fund is available for the development of initiatives which benefit the residents of the Northern Southland Development Fund area (represented by the Southland District Council Five Rivers Ward and the Dipton Community Levy area). Examples are:

• community facilities, reserves, playgrounds, utilities and other community amenities
• community programmes, activities, events and recreational opportunities
• community initiatives aimed at developing the social, cultural, environmental, health, safety and general wellbeing of the community
• the development of amenities which may provide a long term economic benefit for the community.

There is one funding round each year and applications close 31 March.

Applications are invited for the Southland Regional Heritage Fund. The purpose of this fund is to provide grants for projects and initiatives which preserve, communicate and promote Southland’s heritage. Grants are also available to local museums, with items or collections of relevance to local and regional heritage, for the purpose of preservation, restoration, curation or display of those items or collections.

Application forms and guidelines are available from Council websites or by emailing bronwyn@greatsouth.nz Any enquiries please contact: Bronwyn Affleck at the above email or by phoning 03 211 1400. Applications close 31 March and 30 September.

The District Initiatives Fund is available to support the development and implementation of initiatives within the Southland District area that are at a scale that provides benefits to the District as a whole or are of benefit to at least two community board areas. This includes the following:

• non council owned facilities and amenities
• sport and recreational facilities
• community programmes, activities or events

Closing dates: Two rounds per year closing 31 March and 30 September

There will be one funding round per annum with applications closing 31 March each year. Although there will be one formal funding round, the committee might accept and consider applications at other times if deemed appropriate.

The purpose of the fund is to provide relief and assistance to people in physical or financial need due to age, illness, congenital defect, accident or other misfortune and the advancement of education and learning.

Community groups or organisations and individuals that live within the Wyndham township or projects that benefit the residents of the township are eligible.

Closing dates: 31 March each year

Applications to this fund are considered twice annually. Applications close on 31 March or 30 September each year. The purpose of the fund is to provide grants and loans for the benefit of the residents of the former Ohai Railway Board Area - a resident being a person or a descendant of a person whose name appeared on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll in any year from 1960 to 2011 and whose address at the time was within the area of the former board.

Eligible Purposes:

• the provision of bursaries for tertiary study or adult education
• to facilitate employment opportunities
• the development of community facilities, reserves and resources/recreational and leadership opportunities/community programmes, activities, events and charitable purposes

Assistance may also be provided to individuals or groups taking part in events, which reflect credit or provide benefit to the community. Consideration may be given to projects aimed at providing public utilities. Assistance for other initiatives outside the above categories may be provided at the discretion of the committee.

Closing dates: Two rounds per year closing 31 March and 30 September