The Community Road Safety Fund (CRSF) is now open to applications. Find out more below.
Subscribe to updates on the Community Road Safety Fund(external link)
The CRSF supports community-led and community-delivered road safety initiatives. Funding for the CRSF comes from the sale of personalised plates.
The CRSF’s vision is to improve road safety outcomes for communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. Everyone has a role to play in road safety – and the fund is focused on ensuring that communities are supported in improving road safety outcomes.
The CRSF’s purpose is to enable communities to deliver road safety initiatives that are important to them, and that create safer communities. We recognise that community organisations are uniquely placed to identify issues relevant to them – and to use their connections to make a positive impact. We know that community initiatives can be tailored to local needs in a way that nationally delivered programmes can’t.
The Community Road Safety Fund opened to applications at 9am on 14 October 2025.
Applications close at 5pm on 2 December 2025.
Before you apply, we recommend you read through the application guidelines.
CRSF Application Guide [PDF, 2.2 MB]
To apply, you first need to complete an online application form.
Online application form(external link)
Then you need to provide supporting documentation via email including a budget and financial statements. We’ve provided a template for you to create your project budget. There are two tabs in the budget template – one with instructions and one for you to complete your budget.
We’ve also created a PDF of the instructions for the budget template to make it easier for you to print out:
Budget template instructions [PDF, 100 KB]
To be eligible to apply for CRSF funding your organisation must be:
A full list of eligibility criteria can be found in the CRSF Application Guide.
CRSF Application Guide [PDF, 2.2 MB]
The CRSF is focused on community designed and delivered initiatives that contribute to New Zealand’s road safety strategic goals.
The CRSF supports initiatives that:
The CRSF will award one-off grants for up to a maximum of 3 years in duration. Funding is awarded through an assessment process based on the strength of a proposed initiative against set criteria.
The minimum grant is $10,000 excluding GST and the maximum grant is $2,000,000 excluding GST (although grants of $2,000,000 will be highly uncommon). The maximum grant available is $700,000 in a 12-month period. It is expected the Fund will be open for applications once a year. We expect the final pool of successful grants to be a mix of initiatives and grant amounts, from different community types.
We’ll be assessing applications based on:
Our CRSF Application Guide sets out everything you need to know about applying for a CRSF grant. This is a ‘must-read’ before you apply.
CRSF Application Guide [PDF, 2.2 MB]
For more information about the CRSF, you can also view our webinar held on 23 September 2025 and the presentation slides:
Presentation slides [PDF, 2.4 MB]
We encourage community groups to read the CRSF Application Guide (see above) before sending in questions, as the guide is likely to contain all the information you need.
If you have a question, please email us at:
If your question is not covered in the Application Guide, is not commercially sensitive and is likely to be of interest to other applicants then we will publish clarifying information on this webpage.
The deadline for questions from applicants is 5pm Wednesday 26 November 2025, and we intend to respond to all questions by 5pm Friday 28 November 2025.
As long as a group meets the eligibility criteria they can apply. This includes groups that receive CRSF funding currently.
CloseYou can apply for multiple activity areas, but you’ll need to submit a separate application for each activity area. For example, if a group has an initiative that meets both the first activity area (eg, enhance outcomes for young road users (aged 18 and under) by providing direct opportunities to develop their road safety knowledge and skills) and the third activity area (tackle the largest contributors to road-related harm for that community), they’ll need to submit separate applications for each area.
There is also no ‘target split’ between the 3 priority areas – we’re keen to support all 3 areas.
CloseScreen shots of the application form are included in the Application Guide, so you’ll be able to see what the form looks like before it goes live on 14 October 2025. This will help you prepare your answers in advance.
CloseYou’ll need to specify the total amount of funding requested in your application form. You’ll also need to send a budget for your initiative (we’ll provide a template), and 2 financial statements – a statement of financial position (ie, a balance sheet) and a statement of financial performance (ie, income and expenditure statement).
CloseInfrastructure is included in activities that can’t be funded. This includes cycle tracks and bicycle racks. However, cycling-related initiatives can be considered, for example if they relate to developing young road users’ road safety knowledge and skills.
CloseApplications will be assessed on merit, not on geographical location.
CloseCouncils are not eligible to apply for CRSF funding as they are already receiving funding through the NLTP. However, community organisations that indirectly receive NLTP funding because they are contracted to a local authority may apply for CRSF funding, provided they meet the CRSF eligibility criteria.
CloseNZTA funding for community-based driver testing services comes from the Community Based Diver Licencing Initiatives programme, not the CRSF. However, training and education related to driver licensing, and the test fee itself, can be funded by the CRSF.
CloseCRSF applications will be assessed by CRSF evaluation panels made up of NZTA and external representatives from NZ Police, ACC, AA and local government, with final decisions made by NZTA.
CloseA list of successful applicants, and the amount of the grant, will be published on our website in early July 2026.
Close