Funding application overview
This page provides an overview of the funding process for Forest Growers Levy Trust (FGLT) activities, including the application form and guidance for evaluation.
The FGLT consults with growers on priority areas of levy spend for each calendar year, with growers' views influencing the direction of levy spend.
The FGLT is the fundholder of levy money and invests it into industry-good activities which are administered through the FGLT work programme. The work programme is intended to benefit levy payers and forest growers in New Zealand generally.
These activities span a broad range of subject matters which are categorised into one of nine Committees comprised of industry nominees who help manage the work programme.
The Committees include:
- Biosecurity
- Environment
- Fire
- Health and safety
- Promotions
- Research and development
- Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) forests
- Training, careers and workforce
- Transportation and logistics
Access to levy funding is open to anyone with a project or initiative that will directly benefit New Zealand’s forest growing sector.
Applications open once a year and can be submitted through the FGLT website from the wider forest industry and other stakeholders and via the relevant FOA/FFA Committee.
Once all applications are received, the Committees review the proposals and put forth their funding recommendations to the FGLT Board. The Committees are expected to consult widely to ensure the work is representative of the forest growing industry.
The Board review applications with the expert advice of the Committee members and assess fulfilment of criteria, particularly against the FGLT’s strategic priorities.
Approved applications are entered into the Annual Work Programme.
Any project granted funding by the FGLT must spend those funds within the calendar year it is approved for.
Apply for 2025 funding
Applications for 2025 funding open on Sunday 29 September and close at 5pm, Sunday 13 October 2024.
All applications must be completed online using the link provided.
Applications that are incomplete or submitted late will not be considered for funding.
Projects seeking funding from more than one FGLT committee will need to complete and submit a separate form for each.
Please be concise and keep your responses to the word limits.
FGLT research and development funding
Research and development projects were required to pre-register their funding requests by 20 September 2024.
If you did not submit a registration, then you are unable to submit a full funding proposal to FGLT.
If you pre-registered a R&D project, you are still required to complete the online application form to be considered for FGLT funding.
Please note, this requirement only applied to research and development projects.
Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions about the pre-registration step.
Application worksheet
A funding application worksheet has been developed as a template applicants can use to pre-fill their project details and form their proposal ahead of time and offline.
The FGLT suggest to copy the information applicants fill out in this worksheet into the online form to submit their funding request when ready.
The fields contained in this worksheet are identical to th eonline form.
Download the Word Document worksheet
Click here for the research proposal template
Funding priorities
Levy income is likely to reduce again in 2025.
The Committees and the FGLT Board are conscious of the financial pressures on growers. Therefore, projects delivering the most value for money and early, strong outcomes for growers are more likely to be successful in their application.
Additionally, the FGLT has identified the following strategic priorities for 2025:
- Industry promotion and advocacy (representation of forest grower interests) reducing the risk from ill-informed criticism and improving forestry's reputation and trust;
- Identifying and reducing wasteful compliance and unjustified regulatory burden - including improving resource management law;
- Encouraging early up-take of gene editing opportunities;
- Maintaining and enhancing biosecurity; and
- Advancing industry resilience, including initiatives to improve forestry preparedness to adapt to adverse climate, market and other changes.
Projects that contribute to the progression of these priority areas will have an evaluation advantage.
Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. should you have any questions in the interim.
Application outcome
The FGLT will review submitted projects and notify applicants of the outcome of their funding request by 31 December 2024.
Please note, levy income is likely to reduce again in 2025.
Projects delivering the most value for money and early, strong outcomes for growers are more likely to be successful in their application. Projects that contribute to the progression of the FGLT’s strategic priorities will also have an evaluation advantage.
Questions about funding applications can be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Funding FAQs
Who do I contact if I have an issue with submitting my application?
If you have any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and place '2025 funding application query' in the subject line.
What if my project is accepted?
A member of the FGLT secretariat will contact you if your funding applications has been successful. Applicants will need to familiarise themselves with and accept the terms of conditions of the funding approval before your project can be included in the Annual Work Programme and placed under the management of the relevant FOA/FFA Committee.
What involvement does the FOA and FFA have?
The FGLT have contracted the FOA and FFA to manage the yearly programme of work as Secretariat to the FGLT. The FOA and FFA have been provided a budget from the FGLT in order to do this. The FOA/FFA Committees are responsible for assessing the viability of projects and ranking them.
I haven't heard anything for a long time – what is happening with my application?
Because applications need to be assessed at Committee meetings and receive final approval from the last FGLT board meeting in December, the process can be quite long. You should receive a letter or email by 31 December 2024 advising of the success or otherwise of your application.
