Local charitable organisations in the environmental sector can now apply for up to $10,000 from the first round of the Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown community funds, which opened today (Thursday April 4).

Community funding platforms Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown were formed last year by the district’s regional tourism organisations with the goal of promoting regenerative tourism by providing visitors with opportunities to contribute to local environmental projects.

“In just one year we’ve formed a number of key partnerships and have had some great support from the tourism industry, with businesses big and small contributing both financially and in-kind,” community fund coordinator Ash Bickley said. 

Groups like Siddartha’s Intent NZ and GOOD Travel have made generous financial contributions, she said, and with $75,000 raised in the last year, funding is now set to go back to local charities to support their work.

Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown Community Funds are designed to promote regenerative tourism and help visitors to give back to the district when they visit. PHOTO: Jordan Siobhan

Grants of between $5,000 and $10,000 will be allocated to registered local charitable entities who work within the climate, conservation, and biodiversity spaces. 

Special consideration will be given to organisations and initiatives that will provide long-term benefits and those that have great visibility for both locals and visitors.

“These funds represent a groundbreaking collaboration, a New Zealand first…demonstrating the potential for replication across the country,” Destination Queenstown chief executive Mat Woods said.

As well as the financial component, Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown made progress on the goal of encouraging visitors to give their time while they are here, and Ash said a particular highlight in the first year had been the planting days.

More than 250 volunteers gave their time to plant 4,000+ native seedlings in just six months, accelerating native revegetation efforts and supporting the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust and Mana Tāhuna, she said.

In Wānaka, groups also gave their time, for example Siddartha’s Intent NZ planted trees at the Bullock Creek wetlands area.

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“This is a project for our community and for our place,” Mat said, “with the intention to create opportunities for our visitor industry to support a regenerative approach and accelerate the efforts of local groups who operate in this space.”

The inaugural Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown funding round is open until May 16.

Find more information on how to apply here.