Crime Prevention Unit

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for funding?

Small Initiatives Grant

Territorial Authorities, Iwi and Non-Government Organisations (with the support of their local Territorial Authority) may apply for a Small Initiatives Grant.

Contestable Fund

Territorial Authorities may apply for Graffiti Vandalism Contestable Funding.

Who at the council should I contact to get support (for non-government organisations)?

Contact the Community Development Manager (or equivalent) in the first instance, or the Assets Manager (or equivalent) in the second. If you are unable to contact either of these people, one of the key contacts below will be able to provide further advice.

The Chief Executive of the local Territorial Authority, or his or her delegated officer, is required to sign off in support of your application. 

How much funding is available?

Small Initiatives Grant

The maximum one-off grant available will be $20,000 (GST exclusive). The Ministry of Justice shall not be liable for any costs or resources associated with submitting an application, or where projects supported by this scheme exceed the maximum grant.

Contestable Fund

The value of the Contestable Fund three-year funding is up to $200,000 (GST exclusive) per annum. The Ministry of Justice shall not be liable for any costs or resources associated with submitting an application, or where projects supported by this scheme exceed the maximum contract.

What types of projects will be eligible for funding?

Projects seeking Small Initiatives Grant funding must meet at least one of the following objectives to be eligible:

• Add to existing graffiti reduction / eradication activity – i.e. this funding is not intended to replace existing resourcing

• Ensure rapid removal of graffiti

• Monitor the incidence of graffiti vandalism as part of a wider removal programme

• Use Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles as a tool to address the problem

• Raise awareness of the negative effects of graffiti vandalism and tagging through educational programmes and material

• Provide diversionary projects for young people currently implicated in graffiti vandalism.

If the project will be run by a non-government organisation, that group must have the written support of the nearest territorial authority, and be a legal entity.

Projects seeking funding must meet at least one of the following objectives to be eligible:

• Develop a coordinated proactive approach that raises awareness of the negative effects of graffiti vandalism and the legal alternatives to such vandalism through educational programmes (including graffiti art programmes) and material (such as pamphlets, DVDs and road-shows etc)

• Develop a strategic regional or cohesive local approach by working with the New Zealand Police, local authorities, government agencies, public utilities and community groups to form partnerships to target local or regional graffiti vandalism

• Contribute in a significant way to an existing comprehensive, coordinated local approach

Projects seeking funding must also include an evaluation phase that will analyse the effectiveness of the project. The evaluation phase will need to be included in the project action plan and the costs of this phase will need to be included in the application.

All Projects (Small Initiatives Grants and Contestable Funding)

• Must be able to demonstrate the intervention logic behind the project. In order to do this applicants must show a link between the local problem, the project’s activity and the likely impact of the activity on the problem. It must be clearly evident why the specific action funding is being sought for will reduce local graffiti vandalism.

• Must be able to show there is reason to believe that the project is likely to achieve its aims. This would ideally include an comment on the likely success of the project supported, where possible, by evidence of similar projects that have proven to be successful locally, or elsewhere.

• Must be able to demonstrate that the project goals or objectives will contribute to any wider strategies to reduce graffiti vandalism. If no such strategy exists, evidence that relevant stakeholders in the area have been consulted and support the project should be included.

• Must demonstrate established project management capacity and methodology, including:
• Clear goals and objectives
• Timeframes to meet those goals and objectives
• Clear and agreed accountabilities for activities required to meet the goals and objectives
• Detail of resources and budget required to undertake the project
• Clear strategies for the management of risks

A basic project plan template is included with the application forms for your convenience.

What types of projects will not be eligible funding?

• Graffiti vandalism programmes currently funded by the Crime Prevention Unit, Ministry of Justice, if the sole purpose of the contract would be to "top up" current funds. (See Note)

• Existing graffiti vandalism projects not currently funded by the Crime Prevention Unit, Ministry of Justice, if the sole purpose of the grant would be to "top up" current funding. (See Note)

• Applications for grants to purchase larger capital items (for example motor vehicles etc) will not be accepted. (See Note)

• Applications to set up a database/s to track graffiti offending or tagging. This is because the Crime Prevention Unit is currently researching best practice models for such databases. Once this research is complete funding may be available in future funding/ grant rounds for database/s found to meet the best practice model.

Note

• The Ministry of Justice may consider funding an existing project through the Graffiti Vandalism Small Initiatives Grant if the funding is required to ‘add value’ to the existing project. Therefore a project which is based on existing activity but which adds a new approach, or additional benefits, may be considered whilst applications which simply wish to do more of the existing activity are less likely to be successful. The latter would be considered a ‘top up’ application. Applicants would have to provide details of the existing projects.

• An application for a grant to purchase small capital items may be considered (for example water-blasters, ladders, safety harnesses etc).

• The Ministry of Justice may request evidence from an applicant to verify that the application does not replace the funding for an existing project.

Who are the key contacts?

In the first instance contact either:

If they are not available, contact the Crime Prevention Unit’s Senior Community Advisor for your zone:

Zone 1: Upper North Island from the Far North District to the Waikato District

Lyndsey Jacobs, Senior Advisor Zone 1, (04) 494-9722, lyndsey.jacobs@justice.govt.nz

Zone 2: Mid North Island from Waikato District to Taupo

Christine Laven, Senior Advisor Zone 2, (04) 496-3365, christine.laven@justice.govt.nz

Zone 3: Lower North Island from Wellington up to the New Plymouth District and across to Gisborne

Debbie Ferrere, Senior Advisor Zone 3, (04) 494-5341, debbie.ferrere@justice.govt.nz

Zone 4: South Island

Fuimaono Tuiasau, Senior Advisor Zone 4, (04) 494-9860, fuimaono.tuiasau@justice.govt.nz

When do I find out the outcome of my application?

Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application after the following dates:

What can I do if I am unsuccessful?

You are welcome to discuss your application with the contacts listed above. However, there will be no appeal process.

What are some examples of the targets you may expect to see in the targets table?

Targets must be measurable in some form. For example; "90 percent of reported tags removed within 24 hours of reporting" for a small initiatives grant project.

How will the applications be assessed?

Applications will be assessed by a panel established by the Crime Prevention Unit. Assessment will be based on the criteria set out in the guidelines.

How do I submit my application?

Applications and supporting documentation must be sent in hardcopy form to either:

Graffiti Vandalism Small Initiatives Fund
Crime Prevention Unit
Ministry of Justice
PO Box 180
WELLINGTON 6140

or

Graffiti Vandalism Contestable Fund
Crime Prevention Unit
Ministry of Justice
PO Box 180
WELLINGTON 6140

When do applications close?

Applications close at 5pm on the dates given below. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Small Initiatives Grant

11 April 2008

Contestable Fund

16 May 2008

What kind of quality assurance practices are you looking for in Section 2 of the application form?

• Background checking of employees
• Budget
• Resourcing

What kind of agencies should I be talking to about my project?

Agencies that you may want to contact are:

• New Zealand Police
• Local Territorial Authority / Authorities
• Ministry of Education
• Department of Corrections
• Ministry of Youth Development
• Housing New Zealand
• Transit New Zealand / On Track
• Ministry of Culture and Heritage
• Department of Internal Affairs

Where do I find more information on graffiti vandalism and best practice?

Further information is included in the "Useful Links".

How do I know how much the project will cost?

You should have a project plan that will identify the key tasks, and the resources required to complete those tasks. Once you have a list of the resources required you should obtain quotes where appropriate. This should form the basis of your response in section three in your application form.

Why do non-government organisations need to get a letter of support from the local Territorial Authority?

This is required as it gives the local Territorial Authority an opportunity to find out more about what you are planning to do and ensure there is effective co-ordination of your project and other similar responses in the community.

How many applications can I make?

You can only make one application per project. This may mean that you have more than one application to submit. You must submit a different application for each project, but you can send them through in the same envelope.

Useful links:

Best practice and relevant research links

Contestable Fund page

Graffiti Vandalism Funding 2008 home

Small Initiatives Grant page