Proceeds of Crime Fund

Round 6 closed on 14 February 2022. This round is currently paused. The Secretariat, in conjunction, with sponsor agencies, will provide quarterly updates to applicants.

Please note: The Proceeds of Crime Fund is not currently accepting new applications. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. For any queries regarding funding, please contact the team at PoCF@justice.govt.nz.

This page provides information on the Proceeds of Crime Fund (the Fund). All Information is correct as at 16 October 2023.

For any questions, please contact the Fund Secretariat at pocf@justice.govt.nz.

On this page:

Purpose of the Fund

The purpose of the Fund is to: 

  • address organised crime harm and drug-related harm
  • test innovative solutions to complex issues relating to crime-related harm
  • enable agencies to build an evidence-based case of what works in addressing crime-related harm.

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Criteria for funding

Initiatives for funding must align with at least one of the following four criteria set by Cabinet:

  • Expansion of alcohol and other drug treatment services
  • Initiatives to fight organised criminal groups dealing in methamphetamine and other drugs
  • Initiatives to address mental health issues within the criminal justice system
  • Initiatives that address crime-related harm to communities and improve community wellbeing

In each funding round, one third of the funds available for allocation are prioritised for initiatives to fight organised criminal groups dealing in methamphetamine and other drugs.

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Who can apply to the Fund

Initiatives must be submitted by one of the public service or non-public service organisations as defined by Te Kawa Mataaho. You can find these listed below.

If your organisation isn’t on this list, you can partner with an eligible agency to submit your proposal. Note that eligible agencies may have an internal approval process at national office to endorse an initiative. These need to be completed ahead of time for this process. Please consult with the agency directly on their internal timeframes.

For information on agency contacts, please email pocf@justice.govt.nz.

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Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) - Hīkina Whakatutuki Oranga Tamariki — Ministry for Children
Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) - Te Manatū mō ngā Iwi ō te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa
Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) - Manatū Ahu Matua
Crown Law Office - Te Tari Ture o te Karauna Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) - Te Tari o te Pirimia me te Komiti Matua
Manatū Taonga - Ministry for Culture and Heritage Serious Fraud Office (SFO) - Te Tari Hara Tāware
Manatū Kaupapa Waonga - Ministry of Defence Ministry of Social Development (MSD) - Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora
Ministry of Education - Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga Te Kawa Mataaho - Public Service Commission
Education Review Office (ERO) - Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ) - Tatauranga Aotearoa
Ministry for the Environment - Manatū Mo Te Taiao Ministry of Transport - Te Manatū Waka
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) - Manatū Aorere Te Tai Ōhanga - The Treasury
Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) - Te Tira Tiaki Te Kāhui Whakamana Rua Tekau mā Iwa - Pike River Recovery Agency
Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora Ministry for Women - Manatū Wāhine
Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga - Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Social Wellbeing Agency - Toi Hau Tāngata
Inland Revenue - Te Tari Taake Te Arawhiti — Māori Crown Relations
Te Tari Taiwhenua - Department of Internal Affairs New Zealand Defence Force - Te Ope Kātua O Aotearoa
Ministry of Justice - Te Tāhū o te Ture New Zealand Police - Nga Pirihimana O Aotearoa
Toitū Te Whenua - Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) Parliamentary Counsel Office - Te Tari Tohutohu Pāremata
Te Puni Kōkiri - Ministry of Māori Development Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives - Te Tari o Te Manahautū o Te Whare Māngai
New Zealand Customs Service - Te Mana Ārai O Aotearoa Parliamentary Service - Te Ratonga Whare Pāremata
New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) - Te Pā Whakamarumaru  Ministry for Ethnic Communities - Te Tari Mātāwaka

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How to apply to the Fund

Eligible agencies can apply to the Fund by using the Proceeds of Crime Fund initial proposal template and submitting it to pocf@justice.govt.nz by the closing date.

Proceeds of Crime Fund initial proposal template [DOCX, 31 KB]

If a proposal is shortlisted, the agency will be given the opportunity to submit a detailed funding proposal. This covers all aspects of the proposed initiative from the case for change through to delivery, goverance and evaluation. 

Evaluation is a key component of testing innovative programmes. Please check out the good practice guide below to support evaluation planning.

Detailed funding proposal template [DOCX, 282 KB]

Evaluation- good practice guide [PDF, 127 KB]

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How funding proposals are assessed

A Panel considers all eligible proposals submitted in each funding round. The Panel is made up of senior representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Te Puni Kōkiri, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, New Zealand Police, The Treasury, Oranga Tamariki and the Chief Science Advisor.

Initial proposals provide a short, high level snapshot of each initiative. The Panel considers each proposal’s alignment with the Fund’s settings, its design, intended outcomes and the likelihood of success.

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How funding decisions are made

If an agency is successful in getting its proposal shortlisted, it will be invited to submit a more detailed funding proposal for the Panel to consider. Each agency and any partnering organisation are also invited to meet with the panel through an online video conference to discuss the proposal.

The Panel considers a range of factors when assessing detailed proposals, including: 

  • how the initiative meets the purpose and criteria of the Fund
  • how well the initiative is designed and planned
  • the likelihood the organisation can deliver the initiative successfully
  • whether the proposal is likely to deliver the proposed outcome and benefits
  • whether the funding recipient can effectively manage and account for this funding
  • whether the Proceeds of Crime Fund is the most suitable source of funding for the initiative, or whether the initiative should seek funding elsewhere (e.g. baseline funding from government agency)
  • the amount of funding available in any round and relevant strategic investment priorities
  • the requirement that at least one third of the funds for allocation are to be prioritised for fighting organised criminal groups dealing in methamphetamine and other drugs. 

The Panel will then provide recommendations to the Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Justice, who determine which proposals should be approved and funded.

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Reporting requirements

If an initiative is approved for funding, the relevant agency must provide six-monthly performance reporting to the Secretariat for transparency and accountability. This information may be incorporated into a report for the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Justice.

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Background to the Fund

The Fund was established in 2009 and has been administered by the Proceeds of Crime Fund Secretariat within the Ministry of Justice since April 2019.

The Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 allows Police to seize cash and assets that have been obtained directly or indirectly from the proceeds of crime. Once all legal matters are addressed, the recovered money is placed in the contestable Proceeds of Crime Fund.

Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009(external link) 

Read copies of the Cabinet paper and related Cabinet minute under which the Fund operates

Terms of Reference for the Proceeds of Crime Fund [PDF, 216 KB]

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Previous funding recipients

Many initiatives have been successfully delivered across Aotearoa New Zealand since the Fund was established. Three such examples are:

Reintegration services for women

This initiative supports the reintegration needs of women aged 18 years and over who have spent time in prison and are considered medium to high risk of reoffending on release. It provides safe and secure transitional accommodation and intensive wraparound support to help them successfully return to their communities and reduce the incidence of reoffending.

Aggravated robbery

This initiative was developed in response to an increasing number of aggravated robberies in 2017. Fog cannons can be installed in small businesses across Aotearoa. The fog cannon emits a cloud of sight-obscuring vapour, together with a high-pitched sound. Staff can activate the fog cannon during a robbery, which allows them to escape to safety and potentially prevent the robbery from taking place.

Rotorua whānau harm and drug harm reduction programme

This programme takes a whānau-centred approach to repeated cases of harm within a family/whānau. It addresses the underlying factors contributing to the behaviour, including alcohol and drug addiction and mental health issues.

Read the full list of initiatives funded by the Proceeds of Crime Fund

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Key dates 

There are two funding rounds each year.

Key Dates for the Fund TBC.

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List of initiatives funded by Proceeds of Crime Fund

Round 1 (2019)

Initiative name

Eligible agency

Amount funded

Reintegration Services for Women

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections)

$4.943m

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and neurodevelopmental issues response prototype service

Ministry of Health

 

$7.600m

New Zealand Police initiative

New Zealand Police

$1.400m

Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Services Eastern Police District

Ministry of Health

$3.150m

Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court, Ministry of Justice – approved by Cabinet

Initiative name

Amount funded

Waikato Alcohol and Drug Treatment Court– Project Team Set-Up

$3.605m

Waikato Alcohol and Drug Treatment Court – Tagged Operating Contingency

$5.156m

Auckland and Waitākere Alcohol and Other Drugs Treatment Courts

$9.75m

Round 2 (2020)

Initiative name

Eligible agency

Amount funded

He Kete Oranga o te Mana Wahine

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections)

$2.720m

Recovery House

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections)

$1.640m

Intergenerational Change for Child and Community Wellbeing Through Parenting Programmes: Storytime Foundation & Brainwave

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections)

$2.123m

Te Ira Tangata Under the Framework of Te Ira Oranga

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections)

$2.037m

Manaaki Wāhine: Trauma Informed Intervention for Women Experiencing Homelessness

Ministry of Health

$1.784m

New Zealand People P-Pull

Ministry of Health

$0.666m

Enhance Border Detection Capability to Detect Novel Masked Illicit Drugs

New Zealand Customs Service

$0.150m

Aggravated Robbery

 

New Zealand Police

$1.908m

Cross-Sector Coordination to Combat Organised Crime

New Zealand Police

$1.529m

Drug, Alcohol and Mental Health Support Whānau Support Workers (Ōtepoti/Dunedin)

New Zealand Police

$1.433m

Rotorua Whānau Harm and Drug Harm Reduction Programme

New Zealand Police

$2.729m

Anti-Corruption Work Programme (Phase 2)

Serious Fraud Office

$1.334m

Round 3 (2021)

Initiative name

Eligible agency

Amount funded

Enhanced wastewater analysis

New Zealand Police

$0.263m

Hurihanga

Oranga Tamariki

$1.354m

Kahukura

Ministry of Health

$2.750m

Matau mō te huringa Hooks For Change

New Zealand Police

$0.750m

Upgrade of Focus Paihia CCTV system

New Zealand Police

$0.154m

Round 4 (2021)

Initiative name

Eligible agency

Amount funded

Acquisition of an Agilent QuickProbe 
& GC MS system

New Zealand Customs Service

$0.319m

Pou oranga whaiora

Ministry of Health

$4.817m

Te huringa ō te tai ō ngā wāhine

New Zealand Police

$1.850m

2021- Better visibility of individuals who control companies and limited partnerships, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, $6.8 million- approved by Cabinet

 

Round 5 (2022)

Initiative name

Eligible agency

Amount funded

Matapuna Youth 

Oranga Tamariki

$2.525m

The Christchurch City Mission- Enhanced services

Ministry of Housing and Urban Development

$2.600m

Whangarei CitySafe CCTV Network upgrade

New Zealand Police

$0.765m

Live for More Surf Therapy Programme

New Zealand Police

$1.100m

Youthline Helpline System overhaul and upgrade

Ministry of Health

$1.677m

Te Puna Hāpori

Ministry of Justice

$1.350m

Mana Motuhake- After care/continuing care, Moana House

Ministry of Health

$1.657m

Te Whare Haumanu and Te Whare Hauora

Ministry of Health

$2.730m

ReWired

Ministry of Health

$1.600m

Te Pa Maru: The Ex-Wellington Men's Night Shelter

Ministry of Housing and Urban Development

$1.000m

Supporting Tangata Whaiora in Mental Health crisis through co-response

Ministry of Health

$3.528m

Open the Doors to Change lives

Ministry of Education

$1.683m

Approved by Cabinet (2022)

Initiative name

 

Eligible agency Amount funded
Small retail Crime Prevention (Police) Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment $ 6.000 m
Youth Engagement (MSD) and Crime Prevention Programmes Ministry of Social Development $6.000 m
Disbursement of Recovered Criminal Proceeds to China (MFAT/ Police/ Crown Law) Ministry of Justice $38.712m
Approved by Cabinet (2023)

Initiative name

 

Eligible agency

Amount funded
Funding for ReFrame  Police $25.600m
Safety Hubs Police $0.10m

 

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