Update – 19 March 2026
We've announced the 18 community-based organisations and initiatives being supported through the $4 million Rural Wellbeing Fund.
For individuals
Mā te takitahi
Last reviewed:
Rural Wellbeing Fund
The Rural Wellbeing Fund supports organisations to deliver wellbeing programmes in rural communities. Find out more.
Why the Rural Wellbeing Fund is needed
The Rural Wellbeing Fund has been established to back wellbeing programmes that support farmers, growers, fishers, foresters, and rural communities.
It will boost and broaden support for existing wellbeing initiatives or support the delivery of new programmes where gaps exist.
People living in rural communities face unique challenges which can take a toll. They include:
- adverse weather, such as dry conditions and floods
- difficult economic conditions
- isolation
- distance to health services.
There are recognised wellbeing benefits in supporting farmers, especially during tough times. Providing advice, resources, and practical programmes to help farmers get through is important.
How the fund is supporting rural people
The Rural Wellbeing Fund supports organisations to deliver wellbeing initiatives in rural communities.
The Government has committed $4 million over the next 4 years (2025–2029) to the contestable fund.
The initiative is jointly funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Health New Zealand. MPI administers the fund.
Funding has been allocated through a competitive process.
New fund to back rural wellbeing programmes – Beehive
Government backing rural resilience and wellbeing – Beehive
Primary Sector-Government partnership to boost rural health and resilience – Beehive
Purpose of the fund
The fund backs wellbeing programmes that:
- boost support for existing initiatives
- broaden access to existing initiatives
- improve consolidation of existing initiatives
- improve the viability of organisations delivering wellbeing initiatives
- deliver new initiatives where gaps exist.
How the fund operates
The fund had a 2-stage application process.
Expressions of interest (EOI) opened on 11 June 2025 and closed on 18 August 2025.
EOIs were assessed by an advisory group that included industry representatives. Its sector and rural health members were:
- Andy Fox
- Vanessa Thomson
- Rowan Struthers
- Rowena Duncum
- Dr Grant Davidson.
Successful expressions of interest were then invited to submit a funding application.
All applications were required to demonstrate they also had industry funding.
Successful applicants for the Rural Wellbeing Fund
| Organisation | Funding amount |
|---|---|
| Whatever With Wiggy Charitable Trust | $740,000 |
| The Whanau Ora Community Clinic Ltd | $716,000 |
| The NZ Federation of Young Farmers Clubs Incorporated | $585,000 |
| Seafood Sector Support Network Trust (FirstMate) | $550,000 |
| Life-Supporting Communities NZ (Be A Mate) | $400,000 |
| Farmstrong Charitable Trust | $399,250 |
| Surfing for Farmers Charitable Trust | $160,000 |
| Tuākana Tēina Kaiārahi Ltd | $90,000 |
| Ara Taiohi Incorporated | $70,000 |
| NZ Shearing Contractors Association (Live Well, Shear Well) | $50,000 |
| Mates of Tairāwhiti Charitable Trust | $50,000 |
| OTS Limited (Livemewell) | $48,400 |
| Te Manu Korero O Nga Matauranga Central King Country REAP | $40,000 |
| Spark That Chat Ltd | $20,000 |
| DB Farming Ltd T/A Deanne Parkes | $15,000 |
| Dominion Federation of New Zealand Chinese Commercial Growers Incorporated | $15,000 |
| The Aoraki Multicultural Council T/A Multicultural Aoraki | $12,000 |
| Blueprint NZ Limited | $11,876 |
| Total | $3.97 million |
