Strategic Partnership Fund
Overview
The Strategic Partnership Fund is designed for forward-thinking organisations ready to collaborate with Council to deliver real impact. This fund supports groups that:
- Align with and advance Council’s key strategic outcomes
- Provide us with expert advice, leadership and support on core programmes, projects, and business-as-usual activities
$300,000 is distributed annually to five recipients.
Applications to this fund are not currently being accepted.
Our Current Partners
Sport Waikato
Sport Waikato is helping us to plan for the future of our district’s sport and recreational facilities, and parks. They’re connected to regional and national insights and provide us with a range of data to drive our decision making. Sport Waikato also supports organisations to collaborate, a concept called “hubbing”, and administers the Waikato portion of the Sport New Zealand Tū Manawa Fund.
Check out more and contact Sport Waikato here: https://www.sportwaikato.org.nz/
Creative Taupō
Creative Taupō champions community expression by making the arts, culture and ngā toi accessible, inclusive and alive across our district. They’re growing creative communities through their arts coordinator, and uniting the district through workshops, developing an arts hub and a central spot for people to connect, share and collaborate online.
Check out more and contact Creative Taupō here: https://creativetaupo.org.nz/
Greening Taupō
Greening Taupō is on a mission to improve environments across Taupō for people and native wildlife. They’re connecting people and looking after our place through planting days, educational sessions, pest management and creating ecological corridoors.
Check out more and contact Greening Taupō here: https://www.greeningtaupo.org.nz/
Bike Taupō
Bike Taupō works to get people on bikes – no matter their age, stage or ability. The mahi is grounded in the five T’s – trails, traps, trees, tamariki and transport. This holistic approach means they not only create and care for world-class biking infrastructure, but also protect native biodiversity through pest control, restore ecosystems through tree planting, and foster a love of cycling in young people through their Kids Bike Taupō programme.
Check out more and contact Bike Taupō here: https://www.biketaupo.org.nz/
Waiora Community Trust
Waiora Community Trust is a cornerstone of Taupō’s social services ecosystem, providing a collaborative, inclusive space for community-focused organisations to thrive. The trust offers co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and leased offices for not-for-profits, social enterprises, and charitable groups from Waiora House in Taupō.
With a kaupapa grounded in people, community, connection, and collaboration, Waiora facilitates monthly Social Services Hui, delivers capability-building workshops, and coordinates sector-wide initiatives that foster innovation and shared impact.
Check out more and contact Waiora Trust here: https://www.waiorahouse.org.nz/
Further information
We are here to help! For further information please contact our Taupō District Council funding team. We aim to reply within three working days:
- Email: funding@taupo.govt.nz
Funding recipients
Decisions on funding for applications made in November and December 2024 were made at a Council meeting on 25 February 2025.
*Note the funding amounts allocated shown in the table are per annum until June 2027.
Applicant name | Project title | Selected priority | Amount Allocated* |
|---|---|---|---|
Sport Waikato | To support operational costs for Sport Waikato to provide Council with a breadth of strategic leadership to influence outcomes for play, active recreation, and sport across the Taupō District. | Sport, Recreation and Reserves Planning | $50,000 |
Lake Taupō District Sports Advisory Council | To support operational costs for the Kiwi Sport Taupō programme and Taupō Sports Services. | Sport, Recreation and Reserves Planning | Declined |
Oruanui Pony Club | To support operational and project costs for the Oruanui Pony Club | Sport, Recreation and Reserves Planning | Declined |
Creative Taupō AKA Taupō Community Arts Council | To support operational costs for Creative Taupō to create a vibrant, inclusive, and dynamic arts and cultural ecosystem, in the Taupō District. | Arts, Culture, Nga Toi and Cultural Well – being | $50,000 |
Creative Waikato | To support operational costs for Creative Waikato to implement a strategic partnership with Council | Arts, Culture, Nga Toi and Cultural Well – being | Declined |
Towncentre Taupō | To support costs associated with the | Arts, Culture, Nga Toi and Cultural Well – being | Declined |
Greening Taupō | To support operational costs to enable the success of Greening Taupō. | Climate Risk and Environmental Wellbeing | $60,000 |
Sea Cleaners Trust | To support operational costs to enable operation in the Taupō Lake and waterways | Climate Risk and Environmental Wellbeing | Declined |
Taupō Community Gardens Trust | To support operational costs for the Taupō Community Gardens Trust | Climate Risk and Environmental Wellbeing | Declined |
Waiora Community Trust | To support operational costs for Waiora Community Trust | Community Well Being | $70,000 |
Mangakino Central Charitable Trust | To support operational costs for Mangakino Central Charitable Trust | Community Well Being | Declined |
Taupō Blue Light Ventures | To support operational costs for Blue Light Taupō | Community Well Being | Declined |
Waikato River Trails Trust | To support operational costs for the Waikato River Trails Trust | Community Well Being | Declined |
Taupō Family Centre Inc | To support operational and event costs for Taupō Family Centre | Community Well Being | Declined |
The Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | To support wage costs for the SPCA Taupō Centre Manager | Community Well Being | Declined |
Maru Energy Trust | To support operational costs for the Maru Energy Trust to increase support for vulnerable homeowners in Tūrangi, Mangakino, Whakamaru and surrounds. | Community Well Being | Declined |
Bike Taupō Advocacy Group Incorporated | To support operational costs associated with trail management and maintenance, the delivery of Kids Bike Taupō and planting and environmental works | Sustainable Transport Choices | $70,000 |
Transparency Matters
Please note that all information provided in your application will be made available to relevant funding committees for assessment purposes. Select details - including your name, organisation name, and the amount applied for will also be made publicly available on the Council website.
