About the Erosion Control Funding Programme (ECFP)
The ECFP (previously called the East Coast Forestry Project) was established in 1992 to address the severe erosion problems in the Gisborne district. More than a quarter of Gisborne district’s land is susceptible to severe erosion (26% to be exact), compared with only 8% of the rest of New Zealand.
Severe erosion includes large-scale gully erosion, earthflow erosion and deep-seated slumps, and causes long-term damage to the productivity of rural land. It:
- threatens communities and rural businesses, including farms and orchards, roads and bridges.
- lowers water quality by contributing large amounts of sediment to river systems.
- harms the natural and cultural values of the land and the coastal environment.
All of this has a negative environmental and economic impact on the district’s hill country farms, infrastructure, and high-quality land on floodplains.
The Gisborne district is susceptible to regular high-intensity weather events that cause soil erosion and downstream flooding. With climate change, these weather events may be more extreme and potentially more frequent.
ECFP community projects
Funding for ECFP community projects is currently closed.
A total of $3,739,878 was available for community projects. Eight projects were funded between 2017 and 2023.
Table of projects that received funding
| Project name | ECFP investment | Status |
| Waiapu River erosion control stage 1 Mata-Tapuaeroa Confluence to Waiapu Rivermouth | $374,880 | In progress |
| East Coast nursery for healthy rivers, healthy land and healthy people | $103,201 | In progress |
| Waimata catchment erosion management project | $529,645 | In progress |
| Optimising kanuka production | $242,000 | Complete |
| Defining Tairawhiti (GDC LIDAR) | $910,000 | Complete |
| Motu catchment project | $404,270 | Complete |
| Motu catchment project phase 2 | $1,075,882 | Complete |
This funding was for community groups, iwi, local organisations, and businesses with innovative ideas to help reduce erosion in the Gisborne region. The projects could be community based or on a regional scale. Some of the projects had other environmental, social and economic benefits for the region.
ECFP community projects helped to address things like:
- understanding erosion in the Gisborne region
- supply of seedlings and materials
- skills and labour
- governance for erodible land blocks
- optimal land use for erodible land
- trials of new or alternative erosion treatments
- riparian and other river treatments for erosion control outcomes
- post-harvest options on erodible land.
ECFP land treatment grants discontinued
There is no funding available for new ECFP land treatments. This does not affect existing grants.
A total of $69,740,940 was available for land treatment grants. The last funding round for landowner grants was in 2018–2019.
The ECFP funded 406 land treatment projects – 265 are complete and 141 are in progress.
If you have an existing ECFP land treatment grant
If you have an existing ECFP land treatment grant, up to 50% of the grant value can be paid on signing your grant agreement, before planting or fencing is complete.
Current grant rates and payment schedule
| Treatment | Recommended stems per hectare* |
Grant | Stage 1: Contract and order placement |
Stage 2: Planting or fencing completed |
Stage 3: Establishment |
Stage 4: Maintenance (5 to 8 years after establishment) |
Final stocking (Year 15) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Planted treatments # * |
$1,500/ha | 50% payment upon contract signing and proof of order | 30% payment upon proof of payment/work completed | 0% payment. Inspection and assessment of planting/fencing completed |
20% of remaining grant at final thinning – about year 8 (final thinning can occur when mean tree height is 5m) |
300 stems/ha (when mean tree height is 15m or more) |
|
| Radiata pine | 1,250* | ||||||
| Douglas-Fir | 1,500* | ||||||
| Eucalyptus, Redwood | 1,250* | ||||||
|
Mānuka # * |
1,500* |
$1,500/ha | 50% payment upon contract signing and proof of order | 30% payment upon proof of payment/work completed | 0% payment. Inspection and assessment of planting/fencing completed |
20% of remaining grant at year 5 (1,000–1,250 stems/ha) |
800–1000 stems/ha |
| Other planted indigenous forestry | At MPI discretion | ||||||
| Indigenous reversion # | Not applicable | $1,500/ha | 50% payment upon contract signing and proof of order | 30% payment upon proof of payment/work completed | 0% payment. Inspection and assessment of planting/fencing completed |
20% of remaining grant at year 5 | Closed canopy cover (at MPI discretion) |
|
Space-planted poplars and willows poles or wands |
Variable |
$26/3m A poles (cattle) $16/2–2.5m B poles (sheep) |
50% payment upon contract signing and proof of order | 30% payment upon proof of payment/work completed | 0% payment. Inspection and assessment of planting/fencing completed |
20% of the total grant at year 5 | As per original establishment plan |
# Forestry, mānuka and reversion treatments within the catchments of high-priority gullies over 2 hectares in size will also qualify for a further top-up of $500/ha.
* The stems per hectare for forestry treatments recommended above is higher than the Minimum Established Stocking Rate against which full grant payment is made. This higher planting rate recognises that some seedling mortality is inevitable in the first year following planting.
Making a claim for payment
To make a claim for payment, complete an ECFP claim for payment form/tax invoice.
ECFP claim for payment form/tax invoice [PDF, 155 KB]
You can submit your claim by email or post to the address listed on the form.
If you have an existing ECFP land treatment grant and would like some help, contact us.
How to contact us
If you’re not sure whether you’re due for a payment or how to make a claim:
- email ecfp@mpi.govt.nz
- or freephone 0800 008 333 and ask for the Erosion Control Funding Programme team.
