Ministry for Primary Industries

Rural Wellbeing Fund

Rural Wellbeing Fund
On 23 May 2025 Government announced the establishment of the Rural Wellbeing Fund.
• The Rural Wellbeing Fund supports organisations to deliver wellbeing initiatives in rural communities.
• The Government has committed $4 million over the next 4 years to the contestable fund.
• The initiative is jointly funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Health New Zealand.
• Funding will be 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

Who can apply?
MPI is formally inviting eligible organisations to apply to the Rural Wellbeing Fund.

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 will help support rural people
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 to apply for funding
Applications are invited from providers of wellbeing programmes that meet the fund’s objectives.
You can get an expression of interest form and criteria for the fund by emailing ruralwellbeingfund@mpi.govt.nz

When do applications close?
Applications for the 2025 funding round must be submitted to ruralwellbeingfund@mpi.govt.nz by 5.00pm on 18 August 2025.

How the wellbeing fund will operate
The fund is administered by MPI. There is a 2-stage application process.
Expressions of interest will be assessed by a panel that will include industry representatives.
Successful expressions of interest will then be invited to submit a funding application.

All applications will be required to demonstrate industry support and co-funding.

Department/Business Unit: Agriculture and Investment Services