WELLINGTON, July 13 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand communities are set to get a boost in funding to help provide a range of services thanks to 233.6 million NZ dollars (170.5 million U.S. dollars) of lottery profits being made available to communities in 2017 and 2018.
New Zealand Internal Affairs Minister and Presiding Member of the Lottery Grants Board Peter Dunne made the announcement on Thursday.
"This funding helps provide a range of community activities and services, helps build and maintain facilities, supports environmental projects which preserve and protect the country's natural heritage, and keeps people safe in the outdoors," Dunne said.
To continue support for the communities affected by last November's Kaikoura earthquake, the Lottery Community Facilities Committee has been allocated an extra 7.5 million NZ dollars (5.5 million U.S. dollars)for larger capital works in the area.
"It is crucial for communities to rebuild or maintain facilities such as local community houses which provide space for people to access multiple services or larger venues that are used for sport, cultural and leisure activities," Dunne said.
The Board has also been able to allocate 20 million NZ dollars (14.6 million U.S. dollars) to the Lottery Significant Projects Committee for a second consecutive year which will assist large and important community projects, he said.
