Lotteries Community round closes 30 November — book a strategy session before 15 October to make the deadline.

Northland Grants

Grant writing & funding advisory · Kerikeri, Northland

Your project deserves funding. We write the bid.

Northland Grants & Funding writes applications for charities, sports clubs, hapū trusts and community organisations across Te Tai Tokerau. We research the fund, write the narrative, manage the budget schedule, and report on outcomes — so you can focus on the work.

$4.2MSecured since 2019
87%Success rate
64Applications written
Lotteries NZ NZCT Creative NZ Heritage NZ Ministry of Health Far North District Council Foundation North Pub Charity Lotteries NZ NZCT Creative NZ Heritage NZ Ministry of Health Far North District Council Foundation North Pub Charity

6 entries in this catalogue

  1. Our track record

    We have written sixty-four applications for Northland organisations since 2019 and secured $4.2 million. Below are five that show the range.

    Kerikeri Rugby Club

    $180,000 · Lotteries Community · 2025
    Need
    New clubrooms after the old ones failed a seismic assessment
    Result
    Full funding approved. Build started March 2026.

    Hokianga Health Trust

    $320,000 · Ministry of Health · 2024
    Need
    Community nursing programme for remote Hokianga settlements
    Result
    Three-year contract approved. Four nurses now in the field.

    Bay of Islands Maritime Museum

    $95,000 · Heritage NZ · 2023
    Need
    Conservation of the 1926 kauri launch Doris
    Result
    Funded in full. Vessel relaunched at Waitangi Day 2025.

    Whangārei Youth Theatre

    $45,000 · Creative NZ · 2023
    Need
    Annual programme funding for a youth drama company
    Result
    Two-year grant approved, renewed in 2025.

    Te Hiku Sports Trust

    $210,000 · NZCT · 2024
    Need
    Artificial turf for Kaitaia's only full-size sports field
    Result
    Application successful. Turf laid January 2026.

  2. Services we offer
    • Grant research & matchingWe find the right fund for your project
    • Application writingFull narrative, budget schedule, supporting docs
    • Funding strategyMulti-year plans for organisations with recurring needs
    • Post-award reportingMilestone and final reports to satisfy funder requirements
    • Capability workshopsHalf-day training for your board or staff to write their own

    Fee structure

    We offer two models: a fixed fee from $2,500 per application (scope-dependent, agreed before work starts), or a success fee of 8–12% of the amount secured (capped, paid only if the application is successful). We recommend the fixed fee for applications under $50,000 and the success fee for larger, multi-funder bids.

  3. The team

    Mere Tāne

    Senior Grant Writer

    MA Public Policy (Otago), 12 years in funding advisory. Former grants manager at Foundation North. Has written over 200 applications across health, sport and heritage.

    Dave Harding

    Research Analyst

    BA Political Science (Auckland), 6 years in the sector. Specialises in fund matching, eligibility analysis, and building the evidence base for applications.

    Aroha Mitchell

    Community Liaison

    Diploma in Social Work (NorthTec). Works with hapū trusts and sports clubs to shape project narratives. Fluent in te reo Māori.

    Stephen Frost

    Financial Analyst

    CA, BCom (Waikato). Builds budget schedules, cashflow forecasts and acquittal reports. Previously at BDO Whangārei.

    Credential lookup

    Select a team member to see their certifications and memberships.

    Showing all 9 credentials

    Team certifications and memberships
    PersonCredentialIssuerIssuedExpires
    Mere TāneGIFANZ MemberGrantmakers & Fundraisers NZ2016Current
    Mere TāneCharities Services CertifiedDIA Charities Services2018Current
    Mere TāneTreaty of Waitangi GovernanceNZ Institute of Directors2020Current
    Dave HardingGIFANZ MemberGrantmakers & Fundraisers NZ2021Current
    Dave HardingPolicy Research CertificateVictoria University2019N/A
    Aroha MitchellSocial Work RegistrationSWRB2017Dec 2026
    Aroha MitchellTe Reo Māori ProficiencyTe Taura Whiri2020Current
    Stephen FrostChartered Accountant (CA)CA ANZ2012Current
    Stephen FrostAML/CFT ComplianceCA ANZ2024Mar 2027

  4. How it works

    1. Discovery meeting

      A free one-hour session — in person if you are in Northland, or by video — to understand your project, your organisation, and what you have tried before.

    2. Fund matching

      Dave researches every open fund that fits your project and presents a shortlist with deadlines, success rates and recommended priority.

    3. Draft & review

      Mere writes the full application — narrative, budget, letters of support. You review, we revise (up to two rounds), and we submit on your behalf.

    4. Submission

      We lodge the application, confirm receipt, and follow up if the funder requests clarification. Typical turnaround is three to six weeks from kickoff.

    5. Post-award support

      If successful, Stephen builds your reporting schedule and we draft milestone and final reports to keep you compliant and eligible for future rounds.

  5. What clients say
    We had been turned down three years running before Mere rewrote our Lotteries application. She found gaps in our narrative we did not know were there. Funded first round. — Hone Parata, Chair, Kerikeri Rugby Club
    The Hokianga Health bid was complex — three funding streams, a Māori health lens, and a tight deadline. Northland Grants handled every piece. We just signed the contracts. — Dr Ngaire Thompson, CEO, Hokianga Health Trust
    Stephen's budget schedule was the cleanest thing Heritage NZ said they had seen from a small museum. We got full funding and the acquittal took half a day. — Fiona Marsh, Director, Bay of Islands Maritime Museum
    Aroha sat with our kaumātua and shaped a project story that actually sounded like us, not like a consultant. That made the application genuine, and I think that is why it worked. — Rangi Tūrei, Te Hiku Sports Trust

  6. FAQ
    How long does an application take?
    Three to six weeks from kickoff to submission, depending on the fund's requirements and how quickly we receive your supporting documents. Urgent turnarounds (under two weeks) attract a 25% surcharge.
    What is your fee structure?
    Fixed fee from $2,500 per application, or a success fee of 8–12% of the amount secured (capped, paid only on success). We recommend the fixed fee for applications under $50,000.
    Do you work outside Northland?
    We focus on Northland organisations because local knowledge matters — we know the funders, the council priorities, and the community context. We occasionally take on Auckland-based Northland projects.
    Can you help us if we have been declined?
    Absolutely. We review the previous application, identify where it fell short, and rewrite for the next round. About a third of our work is resubmissions, and our success rate on those is 82%.
    Do you write for businesses?
    No. Our clients are registered charities, incorporated societies, community trusts, hapū trusts, and sports clubs. If you are a business, we can refer you to someone who specialises in commercial grants.
    What if the application fails?
    Under the fixed-fee model, the fee is due regardless of outcome. Under the success-fee model, you owe nothing. Either way, we provide a debrief on why the application was declined and whether a resubmission is worthwhile.