Government Opens $300K Fund for 2025 Waitangi Day Community Celebrations

The Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund is designed to help community groups, tangata whenua, and local councils host events that reflect New Zealand’s shared history and cultural diversity.

The Government has announced that up to $300,000 in contestable funding is now available to support community-led events marking Waitangi Day 2025, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith confirmed.

Supporting National Commemorations

The Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund is designed to help community groups, tangata whenua, and local councils host events that reflect New Zealand’s shared history and cultural diversity. The fund supports both established commemorations and new initiatives that enable more New Zealanders to engage with the significance of the Treaty of Waitangi.

“This fund supports community groups as they reflect on our shared history and the contributions of all cultures represented in New Zealand today,” Minister Goldsmith said. “It helps bring New Zealanders together to recognise and celebrate all aspects of our national identity, on our national day, including the Treaty of Waitangi and its signing.”

A Treaty That Travelled the Nation

While Waitangi Day is most closely associated with the Bay of Islands, where the Treaty was first signed on 6 February 1840, the Treaty itself travelled across the country, being signed in multiple locations. Minister Goldsmith emphasised that commemorations should reflect this national journey.

“This is a day that should be commemorated not only at Waitangi but throughout the country – recognising that the Treaty itself travelled across our country,” he noted.

Longstanding and New Events Welcomed

Each year, well-established commemorations draw thousands of New Zealanders, including festivals, cultural performances, historical reflections, and family-friendly activities. The Government hopes to see continued support for these gatherings while encouraging fresh initiatives from new applicants.

“New applicants are always welcome and encouraged to propose new ways for New Zealanders to participate in Waitangi Day events in their community,” Goldsmith said.

The Minister encouraged collaboration between local councils, tangata whenua, and community organisations to design inclusive events that highlight both historical reflection and modern cultural expression.

Applications Now Open

Applications for the 2025 Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund opened this week and will close on Monday, 20 October 2025. Funding decisions will prioritise events that foster inclusivity, community engagement, and education about the Treaty’s enduring significance.

A Day of Unity and Reflection

Waitangi Day remains one of New Zealand’s most important occasions – a day that brings together history, culture, and identity. The Government views this funding as a way to ensure communities across Aotearoa have the resources to create meaningful commemorations.

By supporting events that both honour the Treaty’s legacy and celebrate New Zealand’s diverse communities, the fund ensures that Waitangi Day is recognised not just as a date in history, but as a living tradition that continues to shape the nation.