Māori Climate Platform funding supports climate resilience
The Government is contributing $7 million in funding to 16 Māori-led, marae-based climate projects.
The projects funded through the Māori Climate Platform will benefit 51 marae across 11 regions, aimed at strengthening communities’ ability to withstand and adapt to the effects of climate change.
The projects include updating water infrastructure, strengthening flood resilience, providing solar energy and relocating a marae to higher ground.
Marae often provide safe gathering spaces and act as hubs for the community during severe weather.
This is stage two of the Māori Climate Platform. Stage one contributed $3.58 million in funding for five pilot projects, benefiting 13 marae. The pilot projects included a solar farm and a water reticulation system upgrade.
The platform’s ongoing delivery and independent evaluation has been supported by Pou Take Āhuarangi, Climate Lead for the National Iwi Chairs Forum.
| Recipients | Project name | Project overview |
|---|---|---|
| Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Trust | Te Whakapūmau i te Rā | Four marae in Wairoa will install solar to ensure resilience during power outages, and lower emissions. |
| Ngāti Manawa Custodian Limited | Ngati Manawa Marae Community Resilience Project | The Ngāti Manawa Marae Community Resilience Project in the Whakatāne region will build climate-ready infrastructure and solar energy systems. |
| Ōnuku Runanga Incorporated | Manaaki Marae | Mitigating flood risk to Ōnuku Marae facilities in Canterbury to safeguard whānau access for cultural, spiritual, and community use. |
| Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua | Whātua Wai Māori | Whātua Wai Māori will upgrade drinking water at 15 Ngāti Whātua marae in Auckland and Northland, delivering safe, resilient supply. |
| Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua | Kia Tau te Wai, Kia Tau te Ora Project | Upgrading drainage, culverts, and floodgates to reduce flooding at Te Houhanga a Rongo Marae in Northland. |
| Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua Limited | Arowhenua Marae Solar and Storage | The Arowhenua Marae project in Canterbury aims to harness solar energy to power the Marae, ensuring reliable, sustainable energy. |
| Ngā Tāngata Tiaki Custodian Trustee Limited | Whanganui Iwi Marae Energy Resilience | Building energy resilience and sustainability across eight marae in Whanganui with independent energy systems that can operate in times of power scarcity. |
| Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust Ltd | Ngāti Rangi: Building Climate Resilience in Marae | Upgrading water and energy infrastructure across six marae in Whanganui to strengthen drought, storm, and fire preparedness , and ensure clean water and reliable energy. |
| Hokonui Research and Development Limited | O Te Ika Rama Marae Relocation | O Te Ika Rama Marae in Southland, uninsurable after major flooding, will be relocated to higher ground. |
| Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu | Ngāi Tahu Marae Solar Energy projects | Providing solar energy for four marae in Canterbury and Otago to provide a resilient place of refuge in storm events, while reducing emissions. |
| Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust | Turanga Waewae Pakura | The solar project will strengthen the resilience of the Manutuke and Gisborne communities and three marae. |
| Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa Incorporated | Waiwhetū Marae Resilience Improvements (solar power and water storage) | Supporting Waiwhetū Marae in the Wellington region to be sustainable and resilient with the installation of solar power and a water storage system. |
| Tūhourangi Marae Trust | Solar Enablement for Marae Operating and Emergency Response | Tūhourangi ki Ōtūkawa Marae in Bay of Plenty will secure long-term energy and water independencethrough solar power and water storage. |
| Hongoeka Settlement Incorporated | Wai e rua | Mitigating flooding and protecting papakāinga associated with Hongoeka Marae in the Wellington region. |
| Raukawa Charitable Trust | Raukawa Marae Resilience Project – Phase 2 | Upgrading four marae with solar in the Waikato, protecting whānau and taonga and cutting emissions. |
| Ngā Taonga O Ngāi Takoto Trust Board | Ngāi Takoto Marae River and Surface Flooding Adaptation Project | Initiating a climate adaptation approach for Ngāi Takoto with surface flood mitigation at Mahimaru Marae and Waimanoni Marae in Northland. |