Key dates
2026 FGLT funding priorities - Published 31 July 2025
Expressions of Interests (research and development projects only) - Closed 5pm, Tuesday 5 August
Expressions of Interests notification of outcome - By Wednesday, 3 September
Funding applications for 2026 calendar year - Open online 9am, Wednesday 3 September I Close 11.59pm, Tuesday 30 September
Funding overview
The Forest Growers Levy Trust (FGLT) is the industry organisation responsible for managing and investing levy funds collected from forest growers. These funds support projects and initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to both levy payers and the wider forest growing sector.
Applications for this levy funding open once per year.
Projects and activities that receive FGLT funding are entered into the FGLT’s Annual Work Programme, which is delivered through nine specialist areas overseen by eight Committees. These Committees focus on delivering industry-good outcomes across:
- Biosecurity
- Environment
- Fire
- Health, safety and wellbeing
- Industry and product promotion
- Research and development
- Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) forests
- Training and careers
- Transportation and logistics
Funding eligiblity
- Any individual, organisation or business with a project or initiative that stands to directly benefit New Zealand’s forest growing sector can apply for funding for the 2026 calendar year. Projects must demonstrate a clear and direct benefit to New Zealand's forest growing sector
- Applicants seeking funding for a research and development project or initiative must submit an Expressions of Interest (EOI) form to the Forest Research Committee by 5pm, Tuesday 5 August. Research and development projects that received endorsement from the FRC committee can proceeed to completing a full application form in the main funding round (September).
- Note: Only research and development projects are required to complete the EOI form. That is, any project proposal seeking funding from one of the 8 other areas – biosecurity, environment, fire, health and safety, promotions and advocacy, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) forests, training and careers, and transport and logistics – are not required to complete the EOI form. Full information on the EOI process for research and development funding applications is detailed below.
- Information submitted to the FGLT must be accurate, true and complete to the best of the applicant's knowledge at the time of applying for funding
- Applications must be completed according to the FGLT's instructions and submitted online by 11.59pm, Tuesday 30 September, 2025. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be eligible for funding.
Application process
Applications for 2026 funding open at 9am, Wednesday 3 September 2025, online.
Only applications submitted through the online form are eligible for funding.
The FGLT has supplied an ‘Application worksheet’ – a word document template detailing the questions required to be answered in the online form.
It’s not a requirement to complete this worksheet but applicants are encouraged to make use of it to help prepare their responses offline, ahead of time. When you’re ready, copy your responses from the worksheet into the online application form using the link provided on this webpage.
The link to the online application form can be found here, and at the top of this webpage.
The online application form has a ‘Save and continue later’ function allowing applicants to come back to, and complete, the form later. If using this feature, a link will be sent to the email you provided in the ‘Contact information’ section. Click on the link in the email to resume your application. If completing the form over multiple sessions, use the original email and link to access your application again.
All applicants, including approved EOI forms, must submit their funding request to the FGLT by completing this online form by 11.59pm, Tuesday 30 September 2025.
Incomplete or late applications will not be considered for funding.
Tips for completing your online application:
- Work offline first: Whether your application requires input from multiple team members or you are submitting an application on your own, we recommend preparing your responses offline first using the FGLT application worksheet before filling out the online form. This way, you can gather all necessary information in advance, save and revisit before submitting your request through the online form.
- Save and continue later: The online form includes a "Save and Continue Later" feature. If you need to pause and come back later, you can save your progress and return when ready. An email with a link to your draft will be sent to the registered email address. Note: Only one email is sent, so be sure to use the same link each time you return.
- Collaborate offline: If your application involves contributions from more than one person, work together in the offline worksheet template. Once everyone's input is gathered, copy and paste the responses into the online form when you're ready to submit.
- Single user access: Only one user can access and complete the online form at a time. Ensure that no one else is editing or filling out the form simultaneously.
- Multiple submissions: You can submit multiple applications, but each application must be completed separately. I.e., only one online form can be worked on at a time.
- Required fields: You will not be able to submit your form unless all required fields are filled out. Double-check your entries before submitting.
- Word limits: Pay attention to word limits throughout the form. These limits are enforced, and they correspond to those specified in the offline worksheet.
- Final check before submission: Review your form carefully before submitting, aschanges cannot be made once the form is submitted.
- Print your form: You can print a copy of your form before submitting. If you encounter issues when printing, adjusting the margins or page size in your settings may help (e.g. try A3 format or wider margins).
- Save a copy of your form: Once you've submitted your application, a notification will be sent to the email registered on the form, confirming receipt of your application. This email receipt also provides a copy of your application in a simple, printer-friendly format.
By following these tips, you'll ensure a smoother experience while completing the online form.
Evaluation process
Once the application window closes, each specialist Committee carefully reviews submissions based on feasibility, potential sector impact and alignment with FGLT’s strategic priorities. Committees then supply their funding recommendations to the FGLT Board, who evaluates all applications and makes the final funding decisions.
Applicants can expect to receive a letter or email from the FGLT secretariat by 31 December 2025, notifying them of the outcome of their application.
Approved projects are entered into the following year's Work Programme and must fully spend their funds within the calendar year of approval, adhering to the conditions set by the FGLT.
Applicants who are not successful can reapply during the next funding round.
FGLT's 2026 priority areas
The FGLT gives greater consideration to funding projects that align with its ‘priority areas’.
These priorities are reviewed and updated annually based on feedback from the forest growing sector and stakeholders on how they want to see the levy invested.
Each priority reflects a coordinated approach to furthering the sector’s interests and are designed so that 2026 levy-funded projects:
- Align with the industry’s strategic goals, and
- Deliver tangible, high-value outcomes for forest growers, such as improved practices, better market access, greater advocacy and enhanced biosecurity.
Projects able to clearly demonstrate they will deliver the most value for the sector and fulfil one or more of these priorities are more likely to be successful in their funding applications.
Applicants will be asked to identify the one priority area that their project stands to contribute to the most in the online form.
The FGLT's priority areas for 2026 are:
1. Industry promotion and advocacy
Proactively representing forest grower interests to reduce the damage caused to the sector’s reputation and trust from misinformed criticism. Efforts include media and community engagement, outreach campaigns and relationship-building with stakeholders and policy‑makers to shape public perception and build trust.
Why this is a priority:
Regular, credible and transparent engagement enhances forestry’s reputation and the public’s acceptance of our operational activities. Building a track record of integrity enables improved interactions with regulators and communities and improved outcomes for forestry.
2. Regulatory burden and compliance reform
Targeting inefficiencies and unnecessary costs in forestry regulation—working to improve national coherence in environmental standards and streamline compliance under resource management law (e.g. NES‑CF reform)
Why this is a priority:
Uniform, evidence-based regulation supports long-term planning, cost-efficiency and investor confidence by avoiding nationally inconsistent and unworkable overlay rules.
3. Early Gene‑Editing uptake
Supporting the adoption of gene-editing, such as CRISPR-based innovations, to develop traits like sterility in Douglas fir or pest and pathogen resilience in Pinus radiata. This area focuses on enhancing sector opportunities through risk-proportionate regulation and legislative reform under the Gene Technology Bill.
Why this is a priority:
Gene-editing offers environmental, economic and biosecurity gains, such as controlling wilding spread, faster growth, fewer fungicide applications and new market access opportunities. The lengthy process required to bring gene‑edited traits from concept to deployment typically span 5 to 14 years depending on regulatory treatment – making it imperative for industry to begin this work now.
4. Biosecurity excellence
Enhancing forest health and protection by funding biosecurity surveillance programmes, research into pests and pathogens (like red needle cast) and championing policy that strengthens pre‑emptive risk management.
Why this is a priority:
Risks are accelerating quickly under climate change. Emerging pests, pathogens and invasive species threaten the health, productivity and value of our forests. By proactively managing and prioritising biosecurity initiatives, we are safeguarding our forests’ future.
5. Industry resilience and adaptation
Investing in preparedness to adapt forestry operations to climate variability, shifting markets, and unforeseen threats. Includes research around climate-resilient genetics, slash management, wildfire preparedness and operational models. Also, cost containment, financial management and profitability-oriented projects that stand to strengthen forestry’s economic resilience, optimise resource allocation and boost overall returns.
Why this is a priority:
Resilience is the foundation of forestry’s long-term viability – essential for overcoming market fluctuations, land-use trends and climate extremes. Targeted investment in adaptation and cost-efficiency tools bolsters forestry’s resilience on all economic, environmental and social fronts. Embedding cost control and profitability into FGLT-funded project planning increases the likelihood these projects will deliver tangible and sustainable outcomes for forest growers.
Research and Development EOIs
Applicants seeking research and development (R&D) funding must complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form prior to applying for funding from the FGLT in September.
Complete EOI forms must be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 5pm, Tuesday 5 August, 2025.
Non-research initiatives are not required to complete this EOI form and should wait for the FGLT’s main funding application process to open in September 2025. That is, any project proposal seeking funding from one of the 8 other FGLT Committees – biosecurity, environment, fire, health and safety, promotions and advocacy, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) forests, training and careers, and transport and logistics – are not required to complete this EOI form.
The FGLT enlists the support of Forest Growers Research (FGR) – an industry-owned company that manages levy-funded forest research and development – to facilitate this process given the large volume of R&D funding applications received each year.
This early-stage EOI form allows the Forest Research Committee (FRC) to identify and pre-filter research proposals that make a strong case for funding before the broader FGLT funding application window opens.
The EOI form helps the FRC:
- Understand the early promise and strategic fit of your research concept
- Prioritise proposals that align with the FGLT’s research priorities
- Save you time – only shortlisted projects will be invited to submit a full application.
The Forest Research Committee (FRC) will review all EOIs and evaluate each against the FGLT’s strategic priorities and the likely benefit or value the project or initiative will generate for the forest growing sector.
EOI proposals endorsed by the FRC can proceed to submit a full funding application for consideration in the main FGLT funding round opening on September 3.
Important information for R&D funding applicants:
- Any research and development project or initiative seeking funding from the FGLT for the 2026 calendar year must complete the EOI form by 5pm, Tuesday 5 August, 2025 to submit a full FGLT funding application in September.
- The EOI form must be submitted to the Forest Research Committee: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Any research and development application submitted to the FGLT that did not complete an EOI form will not be considered for funding.
- Late or incomplete EOIs will not be considered
- R&D applicants that submit an EOI can expect to be notified of the outcome by Wednesday 3 September. Notification will be via email from FGR.
