
Professional Development Grant
Access training programmes – local and international - with long-term benefits for you, your organisation, and the sector.
Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand
Open every day 10am-6pm
(except Christmas Day)
Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand
Get materials, services, and information for museums, galleries, or for iwi, hapū, and whānau groups caring for taonga.
Maximum funding request: $2,000 including GST
We welcome applications from museums and galleries, iwi, hapū and whānau caring for taonga.
You must represent a legally constituted non-profit organisation, such as an incorporated society, charitable trust or iwi authority.
Metropolitan museums are not eligible to apply.
You can make one application per financial year (1 July – 30 June).
conservation materials (e.g. gloves, acid-free boxes)
equipment or capital items (dehumidifiers, photocopiers, computers, etc.)
professional advice on a range of museum matters (e.g. exhibition design, interpretation, conservation advice), but cannot be used to pay salaries
solutions to address issues raised when undertaking the New Zealand Museums Standards Scheme (e.g. collection care improvements)
the services of tradespeople (e.g. lighting experts, plumbers, builders)
rental agreements (e.g. for dehumidifiers, monitors)
the development of marketing materials (e.g. for brochures)
pest extermination or fumigation
construction materials (e.g. paint, wood, tools)
office equipment repairs
operational expenses e.g bills, rent or lease payments
national and international travel for professional development (see our Travel Subsidy Grant and Professional Development Grant instead)
salaried staff
items that have already been purchased
items for projects that have already been completed
items for projects that do not adhere to current museum best practice.
Download and complete the application form below, then send it with your supporting documentation by email to: NSTPGrants@tepapa.govt.nz
Helping Hands Grant Application Form - 2024 (134.58 KB)
Apply by 5 May if you wish to receive a grant in the same financial year (1 July–30 June).
We will contact you with the outcome of your application within 20 working days of receipt. All decisions made by our assessment panel are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Phone: 0508 678 743
Email: NSTPGrants@tepapa.govt.nz
If your grant is approved you will be sent invoicing instructions, including a purchase order number, to enable your organisation to uplift the funds. The invoice must be from your organisation as we are unable to pay suppliers directly.
When your funding is expended, it is important that you send copies of all relevant receipts or invoices to NSTPGrants@tepapa.govt.nz for filing.
Standard Te Papa terms are payment 20th of the month following the invoice date.
As a grant recipient, you are required to acknowledge the support received from National Services Te Paerangi, for example, in your organisation’s newsletter or website. We can provide a logo and usage guidelines.
Any publicity materials directly funded by a Helping Hands Grant must acknowledge National Services Te Paerangi. The acknowledgement must be viewed and approved by us before the materials are made public.
Access training programmes – local and international - with long-term benefits for you, your organisation, and the sector.
Help cover travel expenses for sector related training in New Zealand.