Report on membership base and needs of environmental catchment and community groups

We commissioned the Cawthron Institute to survey and report on the activities, membership base and needs of these catchment and community groups.

What the report covers

• How groups are organised
• What they are doing
• Obstacles they face
• Priorities for additional support.

Key recommendations from the report

• More funding and a streamlined funding process is needed.
• Find ways to address labour and skill shortages that are impacting work of the groups.
• Provide direct or in-kind funding for administration of the groups.
• Fund technical experts to help groups with management plans and/or to set up measurable indicators of progress (including environmental and cultural monitoring).

The Ministry is continuing to work towards meeting the needs of these groups

This includes:

• making funding systems simpler. We are working collaboratively with other agencies, such as the Department of Conservation and the Ministry for Primary Industries to improve the integration and delivery of various government funding programmes.
• providing more support to tāngata whenua across Aotearoa New Zealand. Separate Te Ao Māori research will be initiated to better understand the funding and support needs of hapu, iwi and Māori.

Find out more

Read the report: Catchment and community environment groups in Aotearoa New Zealand: goals, activities and needs