About
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is the tribal council of Ngāi Tahu, one of the principal Māori iwi (tribes) of New Zealand's South Island (Te Waipounamu). Established by the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Act 1996, the organization serves as the tribal servant, protecting and advancing the collective interests of the iwi. The organization manages various programs across culture and identity (Ngāi Tahutanga), health and wellbeing (Oranga), education and knowledge (Mātauranga), environmental stewardship, and economic development through Ngāi Tahu Holdings. Their mission is guided by the whakatauki (proverb) 'Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei' - For us and our children after us.
Funding Opportunities
Business Grants - Growth Grant
The Growth Grant is a business development funding opportunity offered by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu through their Puna Pakihi program. This grant is designed to support Ngāi Tahu whānau (family members) who are operating established businesses with demonstrated revenue and growth potential. The grant is available to businesses that have been trading for over 12 months, are GST registered, and have revenue above $120,000 NZD. The Growth Grant aims to help Ngāi Tahu business owners expand and develop their enterprises by providing financial support for growth initiatives. Applications are processed through the Te Kopa Ora grants portal, and applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria including proof of business registration, GST registration, and revenue thresholds. Support resources including templates, guides, and examples are available through the Resource Kete to assist applicants through the application process.
Stay Up Grant
The Stay Up Grant is a business grant offered by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu through their Puna Pakihi business support program. This grant is designed to support Ngāi Tahu whānau members who are operating established businesses with revenue up to $120,000 annually. The grant is available to businesses that have been trading for over 12 months and are GST registered if their revenue exceeds $60,000. This funding opportunity aims to help small Ngāi Tahu-owned businesses sustain and grow their operations. Applications are processed through Te Kopa Ora grants portal, and comprehensive resources including a detailed guide, templates, and FAQs are available to assist applicants throughout the application process.
Kickstart Grant
The Kickstart Grant is designed for Ngāi Tahu whānau members who are in their first year of business. This grant supports new business owners who have established their enterprise with at least 50% Ngāi Tahu ownership, possess a Registered NZ Business Number, and are already trading. The program is administered through Te Kopa Ora grants portal and is part of the Puna Pakihi business support initiative by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Whānau members can receive a maximum of two Kickstart Grants over their lifetime and are limited to applying for one grant every 12 months. To be eligible, applicants must be registered as Ngāi Tahu whānau members and be at least 18 years old. If an applicant has received any grants previously, all reporting and receipts relating to those grants must have been received and approved before a new application can be submitted. The grant is specifically targeted at supporting indigenous business development within the Ngāi Tahu community, helping new entrepreneurs establish and grow their businesses during the critical first year of operation. The program provides both financial support and access to business resources through the Resource Kete, which includes templates and examples to assist with the application process.
Mahinga Kai Enhancement Fund
The Mahinga Kai Enhancement Fund supports projects that protect, enhance, utilize and maintain mahinga kai areas, resources and species, and the rights of Ngāi Tahu to access these. The fund prioritizes projects that increase knowledge or activity in the practice of mahinga kai - the natural resources and practices that maintain Ngāi Tahu identity, culture, and tikanga. Mahinga kai encompasses the whenua, waters, coasts, oceans, flora and fauna and how Ngāi Tahu engage with these elements. The fund aims to revitalize the relationship between Ngāi Tahu and mahinga kai, establish protected areas, and ensure appropriate management according to Ngāi Tahu values. Projects should have support from local kaitiaki rūnanga/whānau and demonstrate culturally appropriate management frameworks. The fund particularly favors projects in areas where Ngāi Tahu maintain statutory authority and those involving tribally significant mahinga kai places and species.
Ngāi Tahu Fund
The Ngāi Tahu Fund was established in 2005 by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to ensure whānau have the ability to access resources to strengthen Ngāi Tahu cultural excellence through sustainability, innovation and tenacity. The fund supports registered tribal members and Ngāi Tahu associated groups who seek funding for projects designed to meet specific cultural objectives, including building cultural knowledge, encouraging cultural practices and leadership. The growth of tribal cultural capacity is essential to protect and preserve Māori culture for the future. Ngāi Tahu culture encompasses values and traditions, language and whakapapa - the elements that tell where the people have come from, how they lived, who they were and who they are today.
Learner Support Fund - Tahua Taunaki Akonga
The Learner Support Fund - Tahua Taunaki Akonga is a programme offered by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu that provides tuition sessions and additional support to Ngāi Tahu children. The fund offers out-of-school tuition funding to complement what is already offered within the classroom, helping children aged 5-21 who are registered with Whakapapa Ngāi Tahu and attending school in New Zealand or equivalent educational settings abroad. The programme operates on an annual financial cycle commencing with Term 3 each year and finishing with Term 2 of the following year. The fund provides two tiers of support: a standard allocation of $470 (+GST where applicable) for eligible children, and an enhanced allocation of $940 (+GST where applicable) for children requiring remedial support or studying at NCEA level needing support in two or more subject areas. Applications require a pre-tuition assessment report completed by the child's school teacher. The fund is designed to support educational achievement for Ngāi Tahu whānau members. Additionally, the programme includes Special Assessment Funding up to $940 +GST per child per financial year for specialist learning assessments for children with special educational needs. The fund is currently closed due to high demand and is expected to reopen on or before 1 July 2026.
Kaumātua Grants
Kaumātua grants are available to registered Ngāi Tahu whānau members who are 65 years of age and over. These grants are paid annually in November and represent a charitable distribution to acknowledge and support the tribe's elders. The grant amount is determined each year by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and may vary from year to year. Recent grant amounts have ranged from $170 to $365, with the 2025 amount being $365. The grants are typically paid by direct credit to the recipient's bank account, though recipients can also choose to have the grant transferred to their Whai Rawa account. Because these grants are classified as charitable donations, there is no income tax liability for recipients. However, the grants may be taken into consideration by Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) for rest home subsidy calculations. In September of each year, letters are sent to all kaumātua on the Ngāi Tahu database who are or will be aged 65 before December 31st of that year to verify banking details. Recipients must have their name on the account where the grant is deposited, whether it's a personal or joint account. While the grant cannot be paid directly into another family member's Whai Rawa account, recipients can subsequently make payments from their grant to any Whai Rawa account to assist their whānau. The Kaumātua Grants program reflects Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu's commitment to honoring and supporting its elder members through annual financial assistance.
Kā Pūtea Scholarships
Kā Pūtea Scholarships are available to registered Ngāi Tahu members who are currently enrolled and studying in their second or subsequent year towards a NZQA recognised tertiary qualification or an international equivalent. The scholarships aim to support higher learning and help students connect with their Ngāi Tahutanga. The scholarships are awarded based on applicants' academic achievements and their engagement with whānau, hapū or iwi-related activities. The program offers multiple scholarship tiers including Undergraduate Scholarships (Certificate to Level 7) worth up to $1,500, and Postgraduate Scholarships at Honours level ($3,000), Masters level ($5,000), and Doctorate level ($10,000). Additionally, Exceptional Scholarships are available on a discretionary basis to support students studying overseas at prestigious institutes. All scholarship amounts are pro-rata based on the number of credits enrolled, with full amounts available to those enrolled in at least 120 credits.
Taiawatea – Rangatahi Cultural Leadership Fund
Taiawatea is a rangatahi fund designed to help shape young people who are strong, vibrant champions of Ngāi Tahu culture. The fund aims to empower rangatahi (youth) to connect and express their leadership in Ngāi Tahutanga (Ngāi Tahu cultural identity). Taiawatea can be used to start cultural projects aimed at strengthening Ngāi Tahutanga, and/or to support attendance at regional and national cultural events. The fund was named by the late Piri Sciascia, representing the incoming tide of new generations of Ngāi Tahu people. Successful applicants receive $500 for cultural projects and/or regional/national cultural events. Projects must align to one or more cultural pillars including whakapapa (kinship), tikanga (protocols and customs), te reo (language), mahi toi (creative expression), whenua (landscape and locality), mahinga kai (customary food gathering), ngā uara (values and beliefs), community engagement, and mana tangata (self-determination and self-confidence).
Pūtea Manaaki (Hardship Grant)
The Pūtea Manaaki Hardship Grant is designed to provide financial support for registered Ngāi Tahu members experiencing financial hardship. The grant aims to assist tribal members who are unable to meet their minimum living expenses while guiding them towards self-management. Financial hardship is defined as a situation where individuals cannot meet their minimum living expenses, which include basic food, accommodation, utilities, transportation, medical costs, and other essential needs. The grant provides up to $500 for families with up to two dependents or up to $750 for families with three or more dependents. Applications are limited to once every 12 months and can be submitted year-round through the Te Kopa Ora grants portal. Eligible applicants must be registered Ngāi Tahu members over 18 years old, with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu staff excluded from eligibility.
Taurahere Fund
The Taurahere Fund was established by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to support recognised Ngāi Tahu Taurahere Groups with their basic operational and administrative costs. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu recognises the important role that Taurahere Groups play in supporting iwi members who live outside of the tribal takiwā and in maintaining their connection with the tribe. Recognised Taurahere Groups that have demonstrated consistent engagement with registered Ngāi Tahu members through regular meetings, events, and wānanga are eligible to apply. Applicants can request funding for up to three years, with a maximum allocation of NZD$2,000 per financial year for any one group. Te Rūnanga will consider requests from other groups seeking to be formally recognised as Taurahere Groups on a case by case basis.
Pēpi Pack
Established in 2015, the Pēpi Pack initiative was developed by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu as an approach to whānau ora and tamariki ora. The packs are a way to connect pēpi (babies) with Ngāi Tahu from birth and help them to grow a strong cultural connection to the iwi. The initiative supports Ngāi Tahu whānau during pregnancy and the first year of their child's life by providing a pack of culturally significant items. The program has been modified over time, with changes to the contents while maintaining the core mission of connecting newborns to their iwi heritage. The Pēpi Pack is part of a broader commitment to whānau wellbeing and cultural continuity for Ngāi Tahu families.
Mazzetta Scholarship
The Mazzetta Company Scholarship Fund is a Trust for the advancement of education. The Mazzetta Scholarship aims to support registered Ngāi Tahu whānau and other Māori in their career development in the fishing and/or seafood industry. This includes (but is not limited to) commercial fishing and processing, marine biology, aquaculture, marine science, sea fisheries and freshwater fisheries. The scholarship is designed to assist individuals who are enrolled in NZQA Tertiary level study or international equivalent and are engaged in or seeking to engage in the fishing or seafood industry. Approved amounts are based on the level of funding available and the number of applications received. Applications are accepted annually from February 1 to April 1, with outcomes advised in May.
At a Glance
- Total Funding Opportunities
- 16
- Active Now
- 13
- Source Domain
- ngaitahu.iwi.nz
Catalog Data
This funder profile was automatically extracted from grant listings. Information may be incomplete.
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