Youth Week Grants

Before you jump in, please take a moment to read through the whole form so you’ve got everything you need.

If you need any support at any stage, reach out on (04) 802 5000 or youthweek@arataiohi.org.nz. Dayna is always happy to kōrero and help with any pātai.

A few key things to note

Applications close Sunday 15 March, 5pm.

Grants are up to $1,000 + GST.

Keep answers clear and concise to support our youth grants panel to assess your application.

Make sure you read our Terms and Conditions.

Each year, Youth Week grants are oversubscribed. This means we can’t fund every application and may not be able to fund the full amount you have asked for.

Please take your time to understand how our panel of youth assessors will consider your application. Our youth panel brings their own lived experience and expertise to the final assessment. Make sure your application clearly shows us how your idea lines up with the following criteria:

Youth-Led: clearly show how your event was led by young people, from ideation to delivery to evaluation.

Connection to the 2026 theme: show how your event reflects or celebrates the theme: “Taringa whakarongo! Ki te reo o ngā taiohi – Our voices matter! We deserve to be heard.”

Equity lens: We want to distribute funds fairly across Aotearoa. Our youth assessors will consider accessibility, regional representation and how your event uplifts or provides space for taiohi who are often underserved or underrepresented.

You and your organisation do not have be a membership of Ara Taiohi, however members do receive a small additional weighting as part of our commitment to recognising and strengthening the youth development sector.

Apply Here

Terms & Conditions

You must fulfil each of these to be a successful applicant.

I understand that funding will only be provided to legally registered organisations, not individuals. If your organisation submits more than one application, the maximum total we can allocate to that organisation is $1,000 + GST. Please check internally if there are multiple applications, as this may affect the outcome.
I understand that grants are up to $1,000 + GST, i.e. if you are GST registered and request $1,000, your invoice will be $1,000 + GST, totalling $1,150.

My event must be held during Youth Week 2026: 18-24 May, 2026.
My event will be alcohol, smoke and drug-free.
If my event is a public event, I will post it on the Ara Taiohi website on the Youth Week events schedule.
I will share/tag my event with Ara Taiohi on Facebook and Instagram unless my event is a completely private event.
I will include the Youth Week logo or theme image on promotional material.
A payment and agreement form must be completed with details of who will receive the funds for my event. This must be provided alongside your invoice for payment.
I will complete an evaluation form outlining how the Youth Week event went. This must be completed and returned to Ara Taiohi by 15 June 2026.
I will distribute a participant survey to young people engaged in my event (Ara Taiohi will supply a link closer to the time). 
I will distribute an engagement survey to young people directly involved in planning, decision-making, and/or delivering the funded event (Ara Taiohi will supply a link closer to the time).

Privacy Statement

We collect your information for the purpose of assessing your Youth Week application and contacting you about the grant. We will share organisation name and contact email and event details with our funders, for the purposes of supporting announcements and visits during Youth Week 2026. If anything sits outside of this, we will request permission before doing so.