Museum and heritage development fund

Our Museum and Heritage Development Fund is designed to help projects or activities that showcase the rich heritage of our district, and build capacity and capability in the heritage sector.

Kāpiti has a rich and vibrant heritage, and we're committed to supporting those working to tell our stories. 

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Purpose of the fund

Council’s high-level aims (outlined in our Long-term Plan 2024–34, pages 99–105) include: 

• supporting museums and heritage facilities to preserve and celebrate our culture and heritage, to create a shared identity for our communities 

• fostering community connectedness and identity, support physical and emotional wellbeing, and attract visitors and businesses to the district.

The purpose of the fund is to support activities or projects that:

• promote the Kāpiti Coast’s pre- and post-settlement history to the community and visitors
• preserve and display narratives of our communities’ heritage, both past and for the future.

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Timeline

• Monday 19 August 2024 – Opening of Museum and Heritage Development Fund applications.
• Monday 7 October 2024, 5pm – Closing of Museum and Heritage Development Fund applications.
• Friday 25 October 2024 – Applicants notified of outcome. 
• June 2025 – Opening of Museum and Heritage Development Fund applications for 2025/26 round.

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Funds available

The Museums and Heritage Development Fund has $30,000 allocated annually. Funding is available as either:

• a one-off grant for a specific activity to support short-term projects of one to two years
• seed funding for longer term initiatives, while ongoing viability and sustainability is developed.

The actual amount available each year from 2024/25 depends on how much is committed to projects in a particular financial year. Grants can be for multiple years and, as a guide, are usually $4,000 or over a year. 

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Who can apply

The fund is open to:

• museums operated locally by a trust or committee
• heritage organisations with a focus on maintaining or preserving a heritage site or building, or a collective supporting heritage activity in the district
• Iwi organisations, or other groups focusing on development of Māori heritage sites and initiatives.

Applications from Kāpiti Coast museums and heritage sites not previously known to Council are welcomed.

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Funding criteria

Applications must:

• clearly describe how their project aligns with Council’s purpose for the Museums and Heritage Development Fund
• include a clear vision for the proposed programme or activity of any new initiatives (note that the application may be for funding to develop the business model for this activity or programme).

See Te Papa Tongarewa's Running a museum for information on museum development and writing a business case.

Projects and activities considered might include:

• developing new resources or services that distinctly enhance access to the Kāpiti heritage story
• building organisational capacity or capability
  (excluding equipment, except where this is needed to enable this capability, for example, technology or software for managing collections)
• helping a museum reach a high standard of presentation
• developing strategic policies, such as for collection management or museum promotion
• collection cataloguing
• curation training.

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How to apply

Before you complete or submit your application:

1. Read the information on this page to check you're applying for the right fund.
2. Email the Arts, Museums and Heritage Advisor to discuss your project or application.
3. Complete one of the following forms (forms will be linked when the fund is open):

• Museum and heritage development online application form
• Museum and heritage development application form (printable).

If you complete the printable form, submit it to us by either:

• emailing to [email protected] 
• posting to
  Museum and heritage development fund applications
  175 Rimu Road
  Paraparaumu 5032
  New Zealand.

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Reporting

Successful applicants will be expected to provide a summary report each year they are funded for, at dates agreed at the time the grant is awarded.

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Recipients 2024/25

Grants were awarded to four recipients.

Kāpiti Coast Museum Incorporated – Telling the Kapiti Story (Stage 2)  

Continued development towards its overall objective to promote the historical narratives of Kāpiti based on the museum's collection.

The grant supports the museum’s intention to reorganise its internal spaces so it can set out displays much more cohesively and professionally. This will provide a much better experience for visitors moving through the museum, viewing the artefacts, reading the stories, and interacting with the displays.

Kāpiti Aviation Museum – Kāpiti Aviation Museum upgrade

To support the museum in its broad and long-term objectives to improve the operation, visibility, and visitor experience of the museum, as well as preserving of artefacts and presentation of aviation stories, the grant is for an updated and more professional display that will provide consistency and flow through the museum.

Steam Incorporated – Society and volunteer development

The grant supports Steam Inc’s strategic pathway for sustainability through developing capability and succession planning , and includes a highly commendable programme to upskill young people with specialised automotive skills to keep the trains running, benefitting the young people themselves in furthering their education and equipping themselves for potential future careers.

Te Whare Taonga o Paekākāriki | Paekākāriki Station Precinct Trust – Explore Paekākāriki

The grant supports an ambitious and exciting programme of events and projects, including a “History Day”, redeveloping their website to enable greater access to Paekākāriki and railway stories, and capturing video and oral histories of Ngāti Haumia.