Auckland Council is taking applications for the 2026 Regional Historic Heritage Grant Programme, with individuals, iwi or Māori groups, community groups and trusts able to apply for up to $50,000 for the preservation of heritage places.
Chair of the council’s Community Committee, Councillor Julie Fairey, encourages people who want to preserve a heritage place to apply for a grant.
“Auckland’s historic heritage should be cherished and be visible for residents and visitors to get a glimpse into the region’s colourful and diverse past,” she said.
“These grants make a real contribution to help preserve, enhance and celebrate heritage taonga in Tāmaki Makaurau.”
Applications for this year’s Regional Historic Heritage Grant Programme (RHHGP) funding round are open from 20 July 2026 until 14 September 2026.
The funding priorities include:
- Conservation of regionally significant historic heritage places, including places in an historic heritage area;
- Conservation of at-risk historic heritage places, including initiatives which address the impacts of climate change;
- Supporting kaitiakitanga of Māori cultural heritage places.
The owners of the former Church of Ascension (pictured) in Point Chevalier received $15,000 through a previous funding round, to repaint the exterior of the building. The wooden building has been given a new, fresh lease of life with a thorough exterior paint job.
“As guardians of such a special building it was important to us to protect the church so it’s here for many more years to come,” says owner, Rachel Neal.
“We are thankful to Auckland Council for the grant, as without it we wouldn’t have been able to beautify and preserve this grand old building, which is an important community and architectural feature in the neigbourhood.”
The former Church of Ascension was constructed in 1918, from plans by Edward Bartley and Son, and was one of the earliest churches in the area. It is a single storey structure of timber-frame construction built to an L-shaped plan with a sheltered entrance on the eastern elevation. Atop the roof, originally shingled, is a small bell turret. It is designed in a simplified, vernacular Gothic Revival style reflecting the late influence of the Arts and Crafts movement in New Zealand’s timber buildings.
It was a continuous place of worship for the Anglican community for almost 100 years. In 2017, the church had its final service and was sold. The former church building is now a private residence.
Interested parties can learn more about the grants and the application process at an online workshop:
Date: Wednesday 5 August 2026 Time: 12.30pm to 1.30pm.
Please RSVP by emailing grants@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz for the calendar invite.
More information about the Regional Historic Heritage Grants Programme is available on the main Auckland Council website.
