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.