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Applications are currently being accepted for the Asia New Zealand Foundation Media Travel Grants 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
The grants are designed to help journalists demystify Asia for New Zealand audiences by enabling independent research and reporting. They are administered by the Asia Media Centre and focus on projects that provide insightful, context-rich coverage of developments in Asia and their implications for New Zealand.
The grant can be used to cover most work-related costs, including return economy airfares, insurance, accommodation and visa and airport taxes.
Please note the Foundation:
may not be able to fund the full amount of some projects.
funds visits to Asia of up to three weeks’ duration.
does not make travel arrangements for media travel grant recipients and cannot sponsor visas. It is the grant recipient's responsibility to obtain the appropriate visas for their travel.
Applicants must be:
working as journalists for New Zealand news organisations or freelance journalists based in New Zealand.
New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.
Preference will be given to candidates who:
are interested in deepening their knowledge of Asia.
have a proven track record in journalism.
can provide a stimulating, well-researched and focused proposal outlining story ideas.
can demonstrate that their material is likely to reach a substantial audience.
Journalists working for news organisations should provide a letter of support from their employer. Freelancers should provide correspondence showing that one or more news organisation(s) will publish/broadcast work resulting from the proposed project.
To apply for a Media Travel Grant, you will need to fill in our online application form, which will be made available here on Monday, 16 March, 2026.
You’ll need to have the following ready before you begin:
1) Your CV
2) A project proposal.
The project proposal must include:
a detailed description of your plans, why you think your project is a newsworthy idea, where you intend to go and what subject(s) you propose to cover.
your proposed itinerary, listing in detail the dates and destinations for the project/assignment. Where possible, identify possible interview subjects.
who has agreed to publish/broadcast your stories.
your intended audience.
the outputs of your assignment – e.g. articles/broadcasts/multimedia.
what experience you have, if any, of the country and subject(s) you wish to cover.
3) A project budget:
Describe all costs and indicate the amount of each, exclusive of GST. The budget breakdown should include (with approximations if exact costs are unknown):
New Zealand expenses (vaccinations, visas, insurance).
Air travel (flight costs, departure taxes).
Local travel (taxis, trains, buses, flights).
Accommodation costs.
Per diems (to cover meals)
Sundries (drivers and interpreters if needed).
4) Supporting correspondence
You will also need to provide supporting correspondence from a publisher and/or broadcaster indicating an intention to publish or broadcast your work
