- Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective have won the 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy for excellence in horticulture.
- Last week the Minister for Māori Development, Tama Potaka, advised of three successful bids to the Māori Development Fund (administered by Te Puni Kōkiri), which are expended to increase Māori exports and Māori employment opportunities. These were:
- Parininihi ki Waitōtara Incorporation (focusing on renewable energy generation, investment $1,2 million)[1];
- Hineuru Orchards (focusing on export high value crops, investment $2.6 million); and
- Akaroa King Salmon (scaling up of production for export, investment $1.5 million).
Māori Development Fund backing growth, jobs and exports | Beehive.govt.nz
- Last week the Minister of Agriculture, Todd McClay, jointly with the Minister for Māori Development, Tama Potaka, announced a project investment of $2.6 million that will “use metrics to enhance Māori landowners’ understanding of their farming systems, provide options to optimise farm production and land uses and maintain or improve environmental performance”. The focus on increasing land use flexibility is being undertaken in partnership with Te Arawa Primary Sector Incorporated.
Land Use Flexibility: greater options for whenua Māori | Beehive.govt.nz
- The Climate Change Minister, Simon Watts, has announced further marae-based projects to strengthen climate change resilience, noting that marae “play a vital role as community hubs and places of refuge”. The media statement advises that additional investment will include funding for solar power and battery systems at Kokohinau and Uiraroa marae, and solar power and battery systems across Kaputahi, Te Kauae, Korapatu and Mirumiru ki Marokopa marae. In total $10 million in funds has been committed to the Māori Climate Platform fund. (Note, not in the release but for general reference, this fund was initiated under the previous administration but has been lowered in value in more recent Budgets delivered by the current Government, Pānui 15/2022 refers to the establishment of these funds.)
Strengthening community preparedness, resilience | Beehive.govt.nz
Funding extended to two more Māori Climate Platform projects | Ministry for the Environment
[1] Note this figure is derived from information in the media statement.
