Description

Amounts

Expiry Date

Government Insurance Against Business Risks

For low or even no premiums, you can have the government insure your business against various risks, providing valuable assurances to financial institutions and making it easier for you to borrow.

$20,000 - 10 million

Research & Development Project Grants

Callaghan Innovation administer the Government's Business R&D Grants. They advise that Research and Development Project Grants are for firms with smaller R&D programmes and those that are new to R&D. Project grants typically provide 30-50 per cent public co-funding. The purpose of the grants is to support more R&D activity in New Zealand. Companies that are foreign-owned may still be eligible for grants if they maintain the R&D programme in New Zealand. The programme helps companies exploit emerging areas of science and technology.

$250K

Commercial Building Project Grants

A Commercial Project Grant from EECA may fund up to 40% of the cost of energy efficiency projects - to help get your project 'over the line'.

Energy-efficient buildings cost less to run, hold their value longer, and are more comfortable. Most commercial buildings in New Zealand waste energy needlessly, creating extra cost.

$50,000

Anytime can apply

Student Grants

Funding is available for undergraduate, postgraduate, Masters and PhD students. Student funding from Callaghan Innovation is usually for research and development projects undertaken within the private sector. Some student grants require an agreement to be made between the student, the firm and the institution at which the student is studying.

$20,000

Youth Worker Training Scheme

In the context of the YWTS, a youth worker is defined as a paid or unpaid person who assists young people to make a successful transition to adult life. A youth worker is concerned with the young person’s total wellbeing rather than one specific aspect, such as sport.

$181,000

Closing dates for applications vary from region to region.

Support for Volunteering Fund

The Support for Volunteering Fund (SVF) was established in 2001 to promote and support volunteering in New Zealand.

$322,000 

Access to Resources

Sometimes, equipment and facilities you need to develop or research a product are beyond your business' capabilities. Through government programmes you may gain access to state-of-the-art expertise, resources and facilities. Assistance is available from the government through various programmes dedicated to bringing forth an innovative idea into a product ready for market.

$25,000 to $1 million

Equity Financing

In this case, the government invests in your company, much as a venture capitalist or angel might. The key difference is the government is often more interested in economic stimulus and less anxious about the return on the investment - so there's less pressure on you to deliver short term profits to them right away.

$250,000 to $10 million

Low-Interest and No-Interest Loans

While a grant is obviously an ideal source of government funding, you have an even greater chance of accessing government programmes which provide financing for small businesses through loans. So if you've made the rounds of the banks and been shown the door, don't give up yet.

$1,500 - $10 million

Government Guaranteed Loans

One of the reasons banks shy away from financing small businesses is the high risk factor. Many small businesses fail, and when that happens, the bank is stuck with a bad loan. But if someone is willing to guarantee the loan, or a substantial part of it, financial institutions are a lot more willing to pony up. It's like having Dad co-sign for that car loan.

$5,000 to $250,000

Business R&D funding

We administer more than $140m a year in business R&D funding through three programmes, designed to help accelerate innovation by firms in New Zealand:

$140m

Tax Refunds or Tax Credits

Getting money is obviously beneficial. But not having to pay it amounts to the same thing, and can even be better. The government offers a variety of programmes that decrease your tax burden, including programmes that provide a lower tax rate for small businesses, award tax credits for hiring eligible apprentices, and provide investment tax credits for qualified expenditures in R&D.

$3,500 - 2 million

Grants and Subsidies (One-Time & Renewable)

When you receive this money, you don't have to pay it back. It's yours to use under the terms of the grant. The federal and regional governments know that it's tough for small businesses like yours to bring new products to market, make your company more efficient, or hire employees. So they provide millions of dollars a year to aid New Zealand entrepreneurs who look to start their own business.

$1,500 - $500,000