BNZ Foundation

BNZ Foundation is a charitable trust, focused on regenerating Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity, and improving financial wellbeing.

Our funding partnerships

Our purpose

BNZ Foundation aims to accelerate positive change by giving charities and social enterprises the boost they need to make a real difference to the lives of New Zealanders.

Our primary focus areas are related to the two key pillars of BNZ’s sustainability strategy.

  • Manaaki Taiao follows Kaitiakitanga (care for our natural environment) principles and focuses on biodiversity regeneration.
  • Manaaki Tangata centres on Manaakitanga (care for people and communities) principles and focuses on enhancing financial wellbeing.

How our funding works

BNZ Foundation funds for-purpose organisations, either registered charities or purpose-driven social enterprises. All organisations must be based and working in New Zealand, for the benefit of New Zealand and New Zealanders.

We proactively look for organisations to fund and therefore don’t have defined funding rounds. If you meet our funding criteria get in touch.

Manaaki Taiao - biodiversity regeneration

We fund initiatives that regenerate the natural environment in the face of increasing biodiversity loss and climate change.

Manaaki Taiao grant

Manaaki Tangata - financial wellbeing

We fund initiatives that help improve financial wellbeing for individuals or communities so they have more confidence in their future.

Manaaki Tangata grant

Our funding partnerships

Live Ocean Foundation

Live Ocean Foundation is a marine conservation charity founded by sailors and ocean champions, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke. The foundation partners with exceptional marine scientists, innovators and communicators to scale up action for a healthy ocean.

BNZ Foundation is partnering with Live Ocean to help protect and restore Aotearoa’s marine ecosystems. Together we’ll focus on the Hauraki Gulf and threatened species like the black petrel/tākoketai, one of the Gulf’s most at-risk seabirds.

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. They focus on conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends.

The BNZ Foundation is partnering with TNC on their blue carbon programme, which focuses on restoring vital coastal wetland habitats and ecosystems, enhancing carbon sequestration and resilience to climate threats, and creating voluntary carbon and climate resilience credits.

Revive Our Gulf

Revive Our Gulf aims to restore the soft-sediment kūtai (green lipped mussels) to enhance biodiversity and abundance in the Hauraki Gulf.

BNZ Foundation is providing funding for a monitoring programme over a three-year period, to the Mussel Reef Restoration Trust (project kaimahi). The programme is essential for assessing the effectiveness of restoration, tracking progress, identifying challenges, and enabling adaptive management.

BNZ Foundation history and governance

BNZ Foundation is a registered charitable trust (registration number CC60688) with a trust board incorporated under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957. It was established in November 2022, by Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) as an independent entity to pursue charitable purposes.

Organisation structure

BNZ Foundation consists of five trustees and a foundation team who work together to accelerate environmental and social change in our local communities. 

About our people

Fund origins

The initial funds of the trust were gifted by BNZ following the sale of BNZ’s art collection in December 2022. The funds were gifted to BNZ Foundation, to be held by the trustees in perpetuity and applied to the foundation’s charitable purposes for the benefit of New Zealand communities.