DOC Community Fund 2026

$9.2 million has been awarded to 20 community groups to boost conservation initiatives protecting our unique biodiversity across Aotearoa New Zealand.

For the 2026 funding round, criteria focused on benefits to threatened species and ecosystems, collaboration, and enabling iwi/hapū/whānau to act as rangatira and kaitiaki.

Projects are funded for up to three years and cover a range of endangered habitats and wildlife across New Zealand, including internationally significant wetlands, rare geothermal ecosystems, and nationally critical fauna and flora.

Funded projects are expected to deliver high-value conservation benefits and will leverage more than 12.3 million in contributions, such as volunteer time and co-funding from partners.

The 2026 DOCCF received 121 applications, requesting more than $69 million of funding in total.

View successful 2026 recipients and their related projects.