Heritage Fund

The purpose of the Heritage Fund is to assist local museums, owners of heritage buildings, archaeological sites, heritage trees and marae to care for the City's heritage. 

Funding available

There is $54,000 available to be shared amongst successful applicants. The funding is contestable with the final allocation resting solely at Council's discretion. (There is no appeals process). Major projects will need to demonstrate other sources of funding have been obtained before Council will make a payment.

Who can apply?

To be eligible applicants must:

• Own or lease a site or building listed in the Heritage Appendix of the District Plan or a site that is known to contain an archaeological site recorded on the Auckland Regional Council's cultural heritage inventory.
• Own or lease a property that has a heritage tree listed in the Heritage Appendix of the District Plan.
• Own and operate a recognised museum in the City that is open to the public and can demonstrate that school groups visit for education purposes.
• Recognised marae in the City that need assistance to preserve artefacts and art works.

Funding criteria

Following is the criteria for the allocation of the Heritage Fund grants:

• Local museums that are open to the general public and provide education programmes to schools on the significance of the building or site.
• Local marae specifically for the protection and care of marae artefacts and art works.
• The ability of the project to meet the long-term protection of the place and to recover the significance of the heritage feature/building
• The maintenance of heritage trees such as pruning
• Whether the project will enhance local amenity and public access to the heritage feature/site

Other Criteria which will be considered:

• Urgency of the work or project
• The principles of the ICOMOS Charter
• Care of marae artefacts and art works should be consistent with tikanga Maori and conservation techniques.
• Whether a report from a conservation professional supports the project
• What other funding is available and has been secured for the project.
• The benefit to the wider community

Requirements:

• Applicants will be required to account for their funds
• The fund cannot be used to assist in the destruction of heritage items unless there is a net benefit e.g. a tree must be felled in order to save a heritage building.
• Two quotes must be presented for physical works projects or the invoice for works or services rendered.

What can the fund be used for?

• Education programmes run by local museums, operational costs and expenses
• Assist with physical works projects for heritage buildings, trees and archaeological sites such as fencing, painting, structural strengthening, building work, tree pruning, fitting sprinkler systems to marae and historic buildings, refunds of building consent fees where appropriate i.e. a building will be able to be accessed by the public.
• Specialist advice and projects related to the care of artefacts and art works owned by marae in Waitakere City.

What will not be funded?

The Heritage Fund is not available for:

• Events
• Physical works where the appropriate building and resource consents have not been obtained.
• Museums with an annual turnover of more than $50,000 per annum
• The building of historic replicas
• Projects resulting in the demolition/destruction of a heritage item
• Interior re-fits of buildings where there is no public benefit i.e. kitchen and bathroom upgrades for private homes
• Projects that get a negative report from a conservation professional
• Feasibility studies

Who will assess applications?

Applications will be assessed by the Heritage Fund Subcommittee with final allocation by the Culture & Community Committee.

Application closing date

The closing date is 18 December 2009. There will be no appeal process.

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing with the reason(s) why so they are in a better position to put in an application that will get funding in the future.

Application form

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Application form (Size 155K)

What to do if successful in gaining funding

• If successful in getting the grant the applicant must use the money for the purposes stated in the application within 12 months. Any money not spent because the project was not started or completed must be returned to Council.
• You will be required to account for the money spent by providing copies of receipts and invoices.
• Groups must prepare a brief report for Council on what the money was spent on and what results were obtained before applying for any subsequent funding, including photos.
• If you have obtained financial assistance in the February 2008 allocation, you will not be eligible to apply for further funding for one.
• If you do not return your completed certificate of expenditure you will not be eligible to re-apply for funding in the future.

Checks to ensure these requirements are met will be undertaken. Failure to meet requirements will jeopardise future chances of receiving any form of funding or assistance from Council.

In some cases depending on the amount granted, Council may wish to enter into a formal agreement with the organisation to formalise the conditions around the funding.