Mapping public funding available in New Zealand to support environmental collective action initiatives

New Zealand’s freshwater systems are under pressure from agriculture, driving government efforts to incentivize sustainable land use. This paper examines how public funding supports collective action groups, particularly catchment groups, that facilitate voluntary environmental improvements. Using the research, development, extension and implementation (RDE&I) framework, we identified and analyzed 20 central and regional government funds available in 2022–2023 comparing aspirations, outcomes, and criteria across general and Māori-focused funds. Funding sat at the extension and implementation stages of the RDE&I pathway, reflecting a focus on ‘on-the-ground’ environmental outcomes compared to research. Māori funds emphasize holistic economic, social, cultural, and environmental benefits aligned with Māori worldviews, while general funds predominantly target environmental and social objectives and often require community involvement and co-funding. Despite shared goals of environmental enhancement, differences in aspirations, criteria and outcomes were evident and could influence progress toward achieving national freshwater targets. These results suggest funding systems could support collective action by strengthening pathways for groups to identify suitable funding and associated prerequisites and by strengthening capability building and cross-sector relationship development. Understanding the distribution and aspirations of these funds provides a foundation for improving government investment to enable collective environmental action and support progress toward national freshwater goals.