The first climate resilience pilot project to be funded through the Māori Climate Platform was announced at Northland’s Matihetihe Marae on February 5 by Climate Change Minister Simon Watts alongside Pou Take Ahuarangi chair Marama Royal (Climate Lead for the National Iwi Chairs Forum).
The project will upgrade the marae’s reticulation system to provide safe drinking water to nearby households, the local kura and the marae which had become increasingly vulnerable to adverse and extreme weather that impacted the water treatment plant and compromised drinking water safety.
A joint work programme between the Ministry for the Environment and Pou Take Ahuarangi assessed climate vulnerabilities across more than 1,000 marae to identify possible pilot projects for funding.
The Matihetihe Marae pilot project will inform other climate initiatives that may receive funding under the Māori Climate Platform.
The other potential pilot projects will align with the Government’s climate strategy, be selected to ensure geographic diversity, and be a mix of projects that help prepare communities for climate change and help reduce emissions. Decisions regarding further pilot projects will be made by Minister Simon Watts.
The pilot projects will be delivered this year and Māori Climate Platform funding will then be accessible to support broader community-led Māori climate action.
The Māori Climate Platform was established in 2022 to enable Crown compliance with statutory requirements under the Climate Change Response Act 2002. The platform’s primary function is to invest funds in the delivery of tangible climate outcomes for Maori communities. More broadly, it supports climate action, building knowledge and skills for and by Māori to contribute to New Zealand’s climate response.
The Ministry for the Environment is responsible for distributing the Māori Climate Platform funding.