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Pacific Languages Community Fund

Pacific Languages Community Fund

The Pacific Languages Community Fund has now closed.

Update on applications

Due to the large volume received, we are taking additional time to carefully review each one. Applicants will be notified shortly on their applications. We aim to get outcomes out to all recipients by 28 February 2025.

This fund is designed to support Pacific-led projects that help Pacific communities to learn and use their languages across Aotearoa. 

This year we are looking for projects that will: 

  • Help communities learn Pacific languages, or improve their Pacific language skills
  • Target or involve Pacific young people
  • Meet the needs of Pacific communities
  • Be able to demonstrate their impact. 

You can apply to one of our four funding pools:

Signature projects

  • Funding from $100,000 - $300,000
  • Approximately 3 projects will be funded
  • Type of project is flexible
  • Registered entities only
  • Progress report by end of May 2025
  • Completion report by end of Nov 2025

Tier 1 Fund

  • Funding from $50,000 - $100,000
  • Approximately 4 projects will be funded
  • Project focus must be resource creation or language learning
  • Registered entities only
  • Progress report by end of May 2025
  • Completion report by end of Nov 2025 

Tier 2 Fund

  • Funding from $20,000 - $50,000
  • Approximately 6 projects will be funded
  • Project focus must be resource creation or language learning
  • Unregistered or registered community groups
  • Completion report by end of Nov 2025

Tier 3 Fund

  • Funding up to $20,000
  • Approximately 7 projects will be funded
  • Project focus must be resource creation or language learning
  • Unregistered or registered community groups
  • Completion report by end of Nov 2025

 If you have further questions about the fund, please email [email protected] 

 

About the fund

  • Applications closed on Thursday 7 November at 12.00pm
  • Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application by 28 February 2025
  • Successful applicants will receive funding from March 2025
  • Progress reports (Signature/Tier 1) must be submitted by Friday 30 May 2025
  • Initiatives must be completed by Friday 31 October 2025
  • Completion reports must be submitted by Friday 28 November 2025.

To be eligible for Signature Project and Tier 1 Funding (above $50,000), applicants must:  

  • be a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand
  • service a Pacific audience
  • be a registered entity
  • provide a budget outline
  • only apply once for MPP language fund per year
  • not hold other Ministry contracts for language learning or resource development in 2025; and  
  • be able to deliver a language initiative targeted at Pacific communities within the timeframe (completed by end of October 2025) and allocated funding.

To be eligible for Tiers 2 and 3 Funding (below $50,000), applicants must:

  • be a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand
  • be of Pacific descent or service a Pacific audience
  • represent an unregistered or registered community group
  • provide a budget outline
  • only apply once for a Ministry for Pacific Peoples language fund per year
  • not hold other Ministry contracts for language learning or resource development in 2025; and  
  • be able to deliver a language initiative targeted at Pacific communities within the timeframe and allocated funding. 
  • Income  
  • academic research and other research activities
  • education institutions including early learning, primary, secondary and tertiary providers (funding that sits in other sectors) 
  • programmes and activities delivered overseas including the New Zealand realm countries
  • debt repayment or debt servicing 
  • travel, accommodation, or fact-finding tours. 

  • Registered organisations are: charitable trusts, incorporated society, churches, statutory bodies, branch of an organisation registered under an Act of Parliament, registered under relevant legislation or a company with a charitable status.  

  • If you are not registered as a charitable organisation, you can still apply but you must clearly articulate the charitable purpose of the initiative and differentiate between for-profit and not-for-profit activities. 

A group that has charitable purpose and experience meeting a need of the community they work with. 

  • This supports projects that involve the development and production of a language resource or resources.  

  • This could be the development of an app, video content, written materials, books etc. 

  • Funding conditions would include provision that the final resources are shared with the Ministry and the Ministry is able to use and share the resources developed (with credit to the group or person who developed it).  

  • This support language education initiatives focused on language teaching and learning. 

  • This could be language classes through basic conversations, multiple mediums, and oratory, cultural and traditional practices.  

  • Funding conditions would include provision that there are a minimum 10 classes.   

  • If you already have an account, you can log in and get started. 

If you have further questions about the fund, please email [email protected]