Introduction
The New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs, known in Māori as Te Tari Taiwhenua, is a central government agency serving individuals, communities, government institutions and businesses throughout New Zealand.
Its responsibilities include identity services, citizenship, community grants, gambling regulation, online safety, local-government policy, public records, national heritage and support for executive government.
The Department is not an independent foundation. However, it administers substantial Lottery, Crown and trust funding for nonprofit organizations, community groups, hapū, iwi and individuals.
History and Background
The Department traces its origins to administrative structures established in 1840, shortly after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. This makes it New Zealand’s oldest government department.
The name “Department of Internal Affairs” came into use in 1907. Since then, its functions have evolved alongside New Zealand’s governmental and social development.
Over time, the Department has assumed responsibility for services and institutions including:
- Birth, death and marriage registration.
- Citizenship and passports.
- Archives New Zealand.
- The National Library of New Zealand.
- Community development and grant administration.
- Gambling and censorship regulation.
- Ministerial and ceremonial services.
- Local-government policy and oversight.
Mission and Purpose
The Department’s stated purpose is to strengthen connections and reduce harm for New Zealanders.
Its principal objectives include:
- Connecting people with government services.
- Protecting identity and personal information.
- Supporting resilient, inclusive communities.
- Regulating activities that may cause social harm.
- Preserving New Zealand’s documentary heritage.
- Strengthening public-sector recordkeeping.
- Supporting effective local government.
- Providing services to ministers and executive government.
- Improving online safety and digital public services.
Governance and Structure
The Department is a public-service department accountable to the New Zealand Government. The Minister of Internal Affairs is its responsible minister and oversees its strategy, capability, integrity and financial performance.
The Secretary for Internal Affairs serves as the Department’s Chief Executive and is responsible for operational leadership and the implementation of government policy.
Its organizational structure currently includes four broad branches:
- Partnerships and Commissions.
- Policy and Te Tiriti.
- Regulatory and Identity Services.
- Enterprise Services.
The Department also supports or houses important national institutions and services, including the National Library, Archives New Zealand, Charities Services and Hāpai Hapori Community Operations.
Funding and Grants
Through its Community Matters platform, the Department administers funding on behalf of:
- The New Zealand Lottery Grants Board.
- Crown-funded programs.
- Community trusts.
- Statutory and memorial trusts.
- Special government initiatives.
Funding may support operational expenses, community projects, facilities, volunteering, cultural initiatives, youth development, disability inclusion, Māori development and disaster recovery.
Grant amounts, eligibility requirements and application dates differ across funding schemes. Applicants should consult the official funding calendar before preparing an application.
Lottery Grants Board
The New Zealand Lottery Grants Board distributes profits generated by Lotto New Zealand games for the benefit of communities.
The Board sets the strategic direction and funding policies for the lottery-grants system. Distribution committees assess applications and award grants for eligible community purposes.
From July 2026, the lottery distribution structure was simplified into six regional committees and one national committee. The changes were designed to make funding easier to navigate and enable more strategic allocation decisions.
Lottery funding may support:
- Community services and operational costs.
- Local and national projects.
- Community facilities.
- Māori, Pacific and ethnic communities.
- Older people and young people.
- Women and people with disabilities.
- Environmental and cultural initiatives.
- Disaster response and recovery.
Community Organisation Grants Scheme
The Community Organisation Grants Scheme, commonly called COGS, provides locally distributed funding to nonprofit organizations delivering community-based social services.
Local distribution committees make funding decisions based on community priorities. Support generally contributes to operating expenses and essential service-delivery costs.
Priority may be given to organizations working with communities that experience disadvantage, limited access to services or social exclusion.
Community and Volunteering Capability Fund
The Community and Volunteering Capability Fund strengthens the capability of community and voluntary organizations.
Funding may support:
- Governance and leadership development.
- Volunteer management.
- Collaboration and organizational networks.
- Community participation.
- Digital capability.
- Organizational resilience.
- Initiatives led by Māori, Pacific and ethnic communities.
This fund incorporates or replaces some earlier capability-building programs as part of the Department’s effort to simplify community funding.
Oranga Marae
Oranga Marae supports the cultural and physical development of marae.
Funding may assist with:
- Marae development planning.
- Building repairs and improvements.
- Health and safety work.
- Cultural revitalization.
- Governance and operational capability.
- Projects strengthening whānau, hapū and iwi connections.
Informal groups may qualify for smaller grants, while requests exceeding specified limits generally require the applicant to possess legal-entity status.
Funding for Change
Funding for Change was introduced to provide smaller, more flexible grants without requiring communities to wait for a conventional annual funding round.
Community advisers identify initiatives from hapū, iwi and communities that have not traditionally accessed Lottery funding. In 2022–2023, the initiative awarded 94 grants, with substantial proportions supporting new applicants, Māori aspirations and Pacific communities.
Other Major Responsibilities and Initiatives
Identity and Citizenship Services
The Department manages New Zealand passports, citizenship applications and the registration of births, deaths, marriages and civil unions.
These services establish and protect legal identity while helping New Zealanders access rights, benefits and international travel.
Community Development
Hāpai Hapori Community Operations works directly with communities throughout New Zealand. Its advisers provide:
- Funding information.
- Application guidance.
- Community-development advice.
- Organizational support.
- Connections with other funders and agencies.
This assistance is particularly valuable for smaller or less experienced community organizations.
Charities Services
Charities Services registers and monitors charitable entities under New Zealand law. It maintains the Charities Register, promotes compliance and provides governance guidance to charities.
Its work is intended to maintain public trust and transparency within the charitable sector.
Archives and National Library
Archives New Zealand protects government records and regulates public-sector information management.
The National Library collects, preserves and provides access to New Zealand’s documentary heritage. Together, these institutions safeguard historical materials, public records and cultural knowledge for future generations.
Regulation and Harm Prevention
The Department regulates areas including:
- Gambling.
- Restricted and objectionable publications.
- Anti-money-laundering compliance in designated sectors.
- Unsolicited electronic messages.
- Online safety and digital harm.
- Private security personnel.
These responsibilities aim to reduce harm while supporting lawful and responsible activity.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
Funding administered by the Department has supported thousands of organizations and projects throughout New Zealand.
Examples include:
- National disability, health and social-service organizations receiving operational funding.
- Community facilities serving local groups, hapū and iwi.
- Programs addressing food insecurity, family well-being and social isolation.
- Cultural, environmental and youth-development projects.
- Initiatives supporting Māori and Pacific aspirations.
- Community responses to floods, cyclones and other emergencies.
- Volunteer development and nonprofit capacity building.
During the 2023–2024 period, more than 30 communities received early-response grants through a Lottery emergency and disaster fund following severe weather events. The assistance supported immediate recovery while helping communities strengthen preparedness for future emergencies.
Conclusion
The New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs is one of the country’s most wide-ranging public institutions. Its responsibilities extend from passports, citizenship and public records to community funding, charitable regulation, national heritage and harm prevention.
Through the Lottery Grants Board, Crown programs and trust funds, the Department provides important financial support to nonprofit organizations, community groups, hapū, iwi and individuals.
Organizations seeking funding should visit the official Community Matters funding hub to review available funds, eligibility criteria, application instructions and current deadlines.
For more information, visit here.
