
2021 Community Fund Overview
The 2021 Community Fund is a Māori Suicide Prevention fund for initiatives that help build the capacity of Māori whānau, hapū and iwi to prevent suicide within communities and respond effectively if, or when, a suicide occurs.
The Community Fund 2021 was launched on the 9th of August 2021 and applications closed on the 20th of September 2021.
There were 137 applications submitted by the closing date.
The table below shows the funding categories, the number of applications to the Community Fund and how many successful applicants there were in each category:
Funding Category | Applications | Successful Applications |
Whānau and Hapū (up to $10,000) | 37 | 31 |
Māori Community Groups (up to $25,000) | 38 | 12 |
Iwi and Māori Providers (up to $50,000) | 43 | 13 |
Collaborations (up to $100,000) | 19 | 5 |
TOTAL | 137 | 61 |
Funded Initiatives in each DHB region
Region | Initiatives |
Auckland | 2 |
Bay of Plenty | 4 |
Canterbury | 3 |
Capital and Coast | 2 |
Counties Manukau | 7 |
Hawke’s Bay | 2 |
Hutt Valley | 2 |
Lakes | 8 |
Mid-Central | 3 |
Nelson-Marlborough | 2 |
Northland | 15 |
Regional | 1 |
South Canterbury | 0 |
Southern | 3 |
Tairawhiti | 6 |
Taranaki | 2 |
Waikato | 8 |
Waitematā | 1 |
West Coast | 1 |
Whanganui | 1 |
Map of Initiative Delivery across Aotearoa

*PLEASE NOTE:
Some initiatives are operating across multiple regions, therefore increasing the scope of delivery across the regions from 61 applications to 73 places of delivery.
Fund Goal and Objectives
Suicide has a long-lasting and far-reaching impact on the lives of many people in New Zealand: individuals, their whānau and families, friends, peers, colleagues, hapū, iwi and wider communities. Every year, hundreds of people die by suicide. In 2016, 553 people died by suicide in Aotearoa New Zealand (a rate of 11.3 per 100,000; Ministry of Health 2019).
The Māori Community Suicide Prevention & Postvention Fund is an opportunity for whānau, hapū, iwi, Māori health providers and community groups to organise and run initiatives that address the issue of suicide in their communities.
The goal of the Fund is to:
- Build the capacity of Māori whānau, hapū and iwi to prevent suicide within communities and to respond effectively if, and when, a suicide occurs by:
- Reducing Māori suicides.
- Reducing suicidal attempts.
- Ease the impact of suicide.
The key objectives of the Fund are:
- Providing support to Māori whānau, hapū and iwi that are experiencing suicide risk and/or are bereaved by suicide.
- Prioritising population groups within their communities that are known to be at higher risk of suicidal distress, including men, youth, rainbow communities and rural communities.
- Building inclusive communities and strengthening community resilience.
- Encouraging a focus on mental wellbeing.
- Raising awareness about available support services.
Suicide Prevention Continuum
The Suicide Prevention Continuum is a framework and reference tool to differentiate between the different stages of suicide risk. Initiatives will need to align to one or more of these categories.
Wellbeing | Prevention | Intervention | Postvention |
Promoting wellbeing reduces the risk of suicidal distress and behaviour and can help increase resilience and the capability to deal with stressful or challenging experiences. | Being able to recognise early signs of distress or that someone is thinking about suicide or self-harm and having the confidence to talk to that person about their thoughts. Can open a door to early intervention and support before the person becomes more distressed | Having timely access to appropriate, culturally responsive, and safe, evidence-informed care is critical when someone’s safety is at risk. This contact presents an opportunity to intervene early and to avoid crises from escalating. | Postvention support can help whānau to navigate the tough times through their experience of grief and loss. These approaches support bereaved whānau to access the right help, at the right time in the right way. |
Successful Initiatives will
- Promote Māori ownership of Māori wellbeing and suicide prevention.
- Build on the strengths of Māori whānau, hapū, iwi, and communities.
- Deliver culturally safe supports and services.
- Prioritise whānau-centred treatment and management models.
- Acknowledge intergenerational trauma, grief, and loss of mana.
- Provide suicide bereavement responses that protect the continuation of whakapapa, hapū, and iwi structures, and;
- Build the evidence base and Mātauranga Māori of what works for Māori.
Funding Streams
There are four funding categories.
All initiatives for the 2021-2022 year are to be completed by 30 June 2022.
Funding Type | Initiative Criteria | Eligibility | Application Limit |
---|---|---|---|
Whānau and Hapū | Whānau and Hapū groups can apply for funding to support health promotion, suicide prevention, or postvention initiatives | The group must have a bank account in the name of the whānau or hapū group | Up to $10,000 per application |
Māori Community Groups | Māori community groups can apply for funding to support health promotion, suicide prevention, or postvention initiatives | Organisation is a legal entity or registered with NZ Charities Commission
The majority of members on the Board are Māori and or the majority of owners/directors of the company are Māori |
Up to $25,000 per application |
Iwi & Māori Providers | Iwi and Māori Providers Health, Social Services, Justice or Whānau Ora Providers who have the experience, capability, and capacity to design and implement a community-based initiative | Iwi or Māori ProviderHolds current contracts for the provision of health, social services, justice, or whānau ora that are primarily but not exclusively targeted to Māori
Organisation is a legal entity or registered with NZ Charities Commission The majority of members on the Board are Māori and or the majority of owners/directors of the company are Māori |
$50,000 per application |
Collaboration | Collaborations between Iwi or Māori Providers Health, Social Services, Justice or Whānau Ora Providers who have the experience, capability, and capacity to design and implement a Regional or National Project | The lead applicant is an Iwi or Māori Provider
Holds current contracts for the provision of health, social services, justice, or whānau ora that are primarily but not exclusively targeted to Māori Organisation is a legal entity or registered with NZ Charities Commission The majority of members on the Board are Māori and or the majority of owners/directors of the company are Māori |
Up to $100,000 per application |
Key Dates
Stage | Date |
Applications open | 9 August 2021 |
Application deadline | 20 September 2021 at 2:00 PM |
Assessment of applications | September/October 2021 |
Notification of Outcome | October 2021 |
Initiative implementation | 1 November 2021 – 30 June 2022 |
Want to apply for funding?
Applications for funding are now closed for the August 2021 round.
The next round of funding is due to open in March 2022. Further information will be available here closer to the time.
Contact Details:
For enquiries, more information or initiative support, email: communityfund@terauora.com or call 0800 62828464