Puna Pakihi
Business grant applications are now open via Te Kopa Ora grants portal. You will need your whakapapa registration number to log in to the portal.
Applications will remain open until 5th December and will reopen again in the new year on 19th January 2026.
We expect there will be a high number of applications from pakihi for these first few funding rounds on the new system so it may take us longer than usual to process applications. We appreciate your ongoing understanding as we work through these as quickly as we can.
There have been some changes to the grant criteria and supporting documentation needed to apply so we recommend that you read through the Kickstart Grant Guide, Stay Up Grant Guide, or Growth Grant Guide before applying to be sure you have everything we need to process your application.
You can find templates and examples to help you with the application process in our new Resource Kete.
If you have a pātai, check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.
About Puna Pakihi
Our kaupapa at Puna Pakihi is to help build the business knowledge and capability of Ngāi Tahu whānau starting or growing their own businesses.
We do this in the following ways:
· Providing grants for businesses
· Offering free business mentoring
· Promoting Ngāi Tahu businesses through our online business directory
· Giving Ngāi Tahu business leaders the opportunity to become business mentors
By offering targeted financial support and educational opportunities, we aim to give our Ngāi Tahu pakihi the best possible chance of thriving and growing, creating positive outcomes for current and future generations of Ngāi Tahu whānau.
Contact us at: [email protected].
Business Grants
We have three kinds of grants available: Kickstart, Stay up and Growth.
The intention of this pūtea is to tautoko Ngāi Tahu whānau in building long-term business capabilities and enabling business growth. The funding is for investments that will create efficiencies, grow the customer base of the business or directly increase business income or net profit.
The funding cannot be used to cover the regular operating costs of running a business or for personal expenses. This includes costs that are ongoing, disposable and not directly tied to measurable business growth.
Apply for a business grant now
Log in to Te Kopa Ora grants portal to apply for a business grant.
Become a Pakihi Mentor
If you have a commercial business background and would like to support whānau on their business journey, please contact the Puna Pakihi team for more information on becoming a Ngāi Tahu business mentor.
Ready to Engage?
For mentoring and any enquiries, please contact us.
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