In July 2025, Dunedin City Council (DCC) allocated a total of $991,778.00 from its City Service, City Project, Major Community Events and Premier Events Funds.
City Service and City Project Funds support significant groups contributing to the DCC’s Strategic outcomes and acting as a peak body or providing a unique service within Dunedin. Major Community Events and Premier Events contribute to the vibrancy, economy and social connection within the city. Major Community Events deliver larger events for mainly Dunedin residents, while Premier-level events have a stronger economic focus, bringing visitors into the city.
The Council continued to support core operating costs through its, including wages.
City Service City Project Grant Recipients
| Grant Recipient | Purpose of Grant | Amount Allocated |
|---|---|---|
| Arts | ||
| Blue Oyster | Extend hours of Gallery Manager and provide additional funding for audience engagement and relationship development activities | $15,000.00 |
| City Choir Dunedin (Dunedin Choral Society) | Administrative costs, rehearsal accompanist and venue, library storage, insurance, and a Conductor’s fee for November’s ‘Messiah’ | $15,000.00 |
| Connections Education and Development Trust (Studio 2) | Operational costs such as staff wages, rent, and utilities | $15,000.00 |
| Dance Ōtepoti | Contribution to the part-time salary of a General Manager | $20,000.00 |
| Dunedin Civic Orchestra Inc. trading as Dunedin Symphony Orchestra | Core artistic, production and administration costs | $110,000.00 |
| Dunedin Collaborative Theatre Trust | Rent, wages, outgoings | $19,550.00 |
| Dunedin Jazz Foundation | Contribution to the wages of the Dunedin Jazz Club’s Director and Marketing Assistant, and Musical Director of the DYJO | $15,000.00 |
| Māori & Pasifika Education Trust | Contribution to the Trust’s overheads, including subcontractors, meeting, administration and professional expenses | $12,000.00 |
| Mayfair Theatre Charitable Trust | Employment of a part time administrator and casual employment of theatre technician(s) | $10,000.00 |
| Social wellbeing | ||
| Age Concern Otago | To help with operational/salary costs | $7,500.00 |
| Citizens Advice Bureau Dunedin Inc (CAB) | To help with the Managers salary | $20,000.00 |
| Dunedin Budget Advisory Service Inc | Contribution towards wages and operational costs | $10,000.00 |
| Dunedin Community Accounting (DCA) | To help with DCA Coordinator costs and room equipment hire | $8,000.00 |
| Dunedin Night Shelter Trust | To help with staff wages | $25,000.00 |
| Ko Ngā Rourou Manaaki | To help fund hosting two pōwhiri at Araiteuru marae | $10,000.00 |
| Methodist Mission Southern | To help support the rangatahi transitional housing goals | $15,000.00 |
| NZ Council of Victim Support Groups Inc | To help with wages for the Dunedin based Team | $15,000.00 |
| Our Food Network (Dunedin) Inc | To help with the wages of the project manager and the operational costs | $12,000.00 |
| Te Hou Ora Whānau Services Ltd | To help with operational costs | $20,000.00 |
| The Dunedin Community House Inc | To help with general operation overhead costs | $25,000.00 |
| The Hills Radio Trust | To help with the Managers salary | $20,000.00 |
| Te Roopu Tautoko ki te Tonga Inc. | To help pay for a coach for three sessions per week | $9,000.00 |
| The South Dunedin Community Network Inc | To help with the process of Participatory Action research (PAR) | $5,050.00 |
| Youthline Otago Inc | To help with the salary of the Counselling Coordinator | $20,000.00 |
| Youthline Otago Inc | To help with funding phase one of the three-year project | $10,000.00 |
| Total | $463,100.00 | |
Major Community Event Grants Recipients
| Grant Recipient | Purpose of Grant | Amount Allocated |
|---|---|---|
| Dunedin Fringe Arts Trust | To assist with operational costs; venue hire, security, traffic management, marketing, equipment, live streaming, and medals | $50,000.00 |
| Dunedin Midwinter Celebrations | To assist with St Johns, crowd control barriers, Sports Splits (timing and numbers), volunteer t-shirts, and scaffolding | $37,000.00 |
| Dunedin Wildlife Trust | To assist with operational costs, promotion the event, and contribute to the set-up of a website | $48,000.00 |
| Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival Trust | To assist with Festival personnel, marketing expenses, production costs, and administration | $20,000.00 |
| NZ Choral Federation Inc | To assist with personnel and production expenses | $19,958.00 |
| NZ Film Festival Trust | To assist with personnel and production expenses | $11,000.00 |
| Pacific Trust Otago | To assist with retaining a festival co-director | $20,000.00 |
| Port Chalmers Seafood Festival | To assist with the cost of venue rental (Regent Theatre) and Dunedin coordinator fee | $45,000.00 |
| South Dunedin Street Festival Steering Group | To assist with project management, advertising and zero waste activities | $13,000.00 |
| Te Mana Āhua Ake Trust | To assist with event production and operational costs | $29,720.00 |
| Total | $293,678.00 | |
Premier Event Grants Recipients
| Grant Recipient | Purpose of Grant | Amount Allocated |
|---|---|---|
| iD Dunedin Fashion Incorporated Society | Retention of event manager and part time staff (publicist and social media manager) in off year | $48,000.00 |
| New Zealand International Science Festival | Operational and Production Costs | $68,000.00 |
| Otago Festival of the Arts Trust | Staffing and outreach programmes | $48,000.00 |
| Otago Sports Car Club | To assist with overall event costs. | $68,000.00 |
| Total | $232,000.00 | |