Te Awarua-o-Porirua Community Environment Fund (2024)

Volunteer community groups and kaitiakitanga can apply for funding to support environmental projects that are: 

• Located within Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour whaitua area (shown in the map below) 
• On public land, for example: council reserves, Department of Conservation land and some stream margins 
• Groups who uphold manaakitanga 

Groups can apply for up to $10,000 each year for up to three years, to fund: 

• Native plants, plant protectors and fertiliser 
• Materials to grow your own native plants 
• Tools 
• Pest plant control 
• Pest animal control 
• Refreshments for working bees 

This fund is not for paying salaries or wages of people involved in the project. 

Find out about other projects that have received support from this fund. 

We will judge applications on the quality of the project, rather than on how well you fill in the application form. You don’t need to include a lot of information.  

You will also get an opportunity to tell us about your project kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face). There will be a site visit with everyone who applies to the fund.  

Priority will be given to projects that will: 

• Align with the aspirations of Te Rūnunga o Toa Rangatira as expressed in the Ngāti Toa Rangatira Statement. This was produced alongside the Te Awarua-o-Porirua Whaitua Implementation Programme. Find that document here.
• Enhance the health of local ecosystems including native plants and animals in this area (e.g., providing habitats for key species). 
• Reduce threats to the harbour and surrounding ecosystems. This could include planting to stop sediment washing into streams and the harbour and managing pest plants and animals. 
• Involve the wider community in the project and raise environmental awareness, e.g., by involving other community groups and schools. 
• Be achievable and have a plan to maintain the project once completed. 
• Plan to cope with changing conditions resulting from climate change.

Applications open – 9am Monday 12 August 2024

Applications close – 5pm Monday 30 September

Successful applications announced – Friday 1 November 2024

Fill out the word document (DOCX 203 KB) and email it to Biodiversity@gw.govt.nz.

If your application is successful, you may need to complete a short restoration plan (we’ll send you some details) before receiving funds. Each year you will need to provide a brief annual report (we have a template for you to fill in). We will organise a site visit with you so you can show us how the allocated funds were spent and what was achieved.  

Contact us if you need advice on your project, such as the best plant species for your site and how to control pest plants and animals.

For more information, or to discuss your application, email us at biodiversity@gw.govt.nz.