Economic development — creating jobs, building enterprise, strengthening local economies — is a key investment area for both government and philanthropy in New Zealand. From Northland to Southland, regions face different economic challenges: declining industries, geographic isolation, demographic change, or the transition away from carbon-intensive activity. Grant funding supports businesses, communities, iwi, and regions to build economic capability and resilience.
Key challenges
New Zealand faces specific economic development challenges:
- Productivity gap with other OECD countries
- Overdependence on primary industries (agriculture, tourism)
- Geographic isolation from major markets
- Regional economic disparities (Auckland vs rest of NZ)
- Māori economic disadvantage (though Māori economy growing rapidly)
- Climate transition (reducing agricultural emissions)
- Digital economy and technology adoption
Māori economy
The Māori economy is now valued at over $70 billion — growing faster than the overall economy:
- Iwi and Māori business enterprise
- Treaty settlements creating investment capital
- Māori land development
- Māori tourism and cultural enterprises
- Māori social enterprise
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
MBIE funds a range of economic development programmes:
- Regional economic development grants
- Trade and enterprise support
- Technology adoption
- Tourism infrastructure
Callaghan Innovation
Callaghan funds business research and development:
- R&D project grants
- R&D Growth Grants (large companies)
- Student fellowships
- Commercial accelerator programmes
Regional Development Agencies
MBIE works through regional development agencies:
- Northland Inc
- Waikato Means Business
- Economic Development Bay of Plenty (TECT)
- Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA)
- Canterbury Development Corporation
Te Puni Kōkiri
TPK funds Māori economic development:
- Māori business grants
- Māori land and agricultural development
- Whānau Ora economic empowerment
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE)
NZTE supports exporting businesses and international growth.
Provincial Growth Fund (PGF)
The PGF invested significantly in regional development — some successor programmes continue under MBIE.
Economic development philanthropy is less common than community wellbeing philanthropy — but some funders engage:
Tindall Foundation
The Tindall Foundation has economic components alongside social:
- Social enterprise development
- Employment pathways
- Community economic empowerment
JR McKenzie Trust
JR McKenzie funds economic equity — social enterprise, employment, and capability building.
Community foundations
Regional community foundations sometimes fund local economic development — particularly in smaller communities where the economic and social are intertwined.
Social enterprise — businesses with social or environmental mission — is a growing part of New Zealand's economic development landscape:
Ākina Foundation
Ākina supports social enterprise development:
- Business advisory support
- Social enterprise development funds
- Market development
- Social enterprise ecosystem building
Enterprise development funders
Tourism is a significant driver of regional economies — and grant-funded:
Tourism grants
Eco-tourism and sustainable tourism
Māori economic development has specific pathways and funders:
Treaty settlement investment
Treaty settlements provide capital to iwi — enabling economic development on Māori land and assets.
He Poutama Tūranga
Work and Income programmes for Māori employment.
Māori Land Court and Te Ture Whenua
Land management reform enabling Māori land development.
Whenua Māori development grants
Grants for productive development of Māori land:
- Agricultural development
- Sustainable land use
- Community facilities on Māori land
Rural economic development includes:
Primary sector development
Agri-tech and precision farming
Rural community infrastructure
Job creation and retention
Economic development funders want measurable job impacts — jobs created, wages paid, employment in priority populations. Quantify employment outcomes.
Additionality
Show that the grant makes a real difference — that the economic activity would not happen without it. Additionality (the grant does something beyond what would happen anyway) is essential for economic development grants.
Leverage
Economic development grants should leverage private and commercial investment. Show how the grant unlocks additional capital or commercial activity.
Community ownership
Community-owned economic development (cooperatives, social enterprise, community assets) is particularly compelling to social funders.
Māori economic participation
Given Māori economic development as a policy priority, show how your economic development programme includes and benefits Māori — partnership, employment, ownership.
Tahua's grants management platform supports economic development funders and regional development agencies — with programme outcome tracking, employment data, community investment measurement, and the reporting tools that help economic development funders demonstrate the impact of their investment in community and regional economic wellbeing across Aotearoa.