How to take part

Forms and guidelines

Please use our forms and guidelines for your application.

Further information

Please call Joseph Montgomery, PGP Secretariat Manager, on 04 894 0216 or Vanessa MacKay, his personal assistant, on 04 894 0669, or email pgp@maf.govt.nz

Process overview

The Primary Growth Partnership is an initiative that requires matched industry investment. Programmes will be investor-led and potential co-investors with similar interests will be responsible for developing submissions.

A brief overview of the application process is as follows:

  • The Investment Advisory Panel (IAP) will open a funding round, call for and assess proposals for investment programmes. There may be multiple funding rounds in each financial year.
  • Successful proposals will be developed into full business plans by a Programme Steering Group of co-investors (industry and government) for further consideration by the IAP.
  • The IAP will assess business plans and make recommendations to the Director-General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), who decides on programmes for Government investment.
  • Once approved, contracts will be entered into for provision of the programme. Programme Steering Groups will arrange for contracts to be entered into. The Programme Steering Group will also be responsible for oversight of the programme.
  • The IAP will monitor and evaluate approved programmes on an ongoing basis and may recommend adjustments to investments.

NOTE: At any stage after you first submit your proposal, you can choose to withdraw from the process. Contact the Secretariat and let them know your intent. You can choose to start again at any time, but you will need to start from the beginning by submitting a proposal.

Full details of the application process and requirements are available for download: Guidelines for Co-investors [273K PDF].

Process Chart

Please see the Process Chart [ 30K PDF] for more information.

Eligibility and assessment

Eligibility:

The following eligibility rules apply to all co-investment programmes:

  1. Sector focus: The focus of the co-investor programme must be on activities in one or more PGP sector:
    1. Pastoral (including wool) and arable
    2. Horticulture
    3. Seafood (including aquaculture)
    4. Forestry and wood processing
    5. Food processing (including nutriceuticals and bio-actives)
  2. A coherent programme: A co-investment programme must comprise a suite of complementary and mutually supporting projects
  3. Maximum duration: PGP funding of a co-investment programme may be for a maximum of seven years
  4. Minimum size: The minimum amount that PGP will co-invest and which must be matched by qualifying industry co-investment is $500,000 over the lifetime of the co-investment programme
  5. Co-funding: Qualifying co-investor contributions must be equal to or greater than Crown Primary Growth Partnership funding
  6. Additionality: Co-investors’ proposed investment, cash and in-kind, must be beyond ‘business as usual’ programmes.
  7. Consistency with other policy: Co-investment programmes must be consistent with New Zealand’s international obligations and trade policies.

Assessment:

  1. Economic benefits: Assuming the programme is successfully implemented, it will result in direct and indirect net economic benefits to New Zealand.
  2. Spillover benefits: Assuming the programme is successfully implemented, there will be clearly identifiable spillover benefits to New Zealand
  3. Sustainability benefits: Assuming the programme is successfully implemented, it will maintain or improve net sustainability for New Zealand.
  4. Likelihood of success: The intended outcome benefits from the programme are likely to be achieved.
  5. Fit: The programme fits well with the overall strategic direction of the sector.
  6. Path to market: The programme demonstrates a consideration of all steps on the value chain up to and including commercialisation and describes where changes will need to be made along the value chain for the outcome to be achieved.
  7. Ability to deliver: The co-investors have the ability to deliver on the programme.
  8. Retention of benefits: The benefits resulting from the investment programme are likely to be retained in New Zealand.
  9. Cost: The programme costings and contributions are adequately specified, realistic and appropriate.

Full details of the assessment criteria are available in the Guidelines for Co-investors [273K PDF].