Development | Grant

Ngāi Tahu Fund

Ngāi Tahu culture is unique and enduring. It encompasses our values and traditions, our language and whakapapa.

These are the elements that tell us where we have come from, how we lived, who we were and who we are today.

In 2005, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu established the Ngāi Tahu Fund to ensure whānau have the ability to access resources to strengthen Ngāi Tahu cultural excellence through sustainability, innovation and tenacity.

Registered tribal members and Ngāi Tahu associated groups can apply for funding for projects designed to meet specific cultural objectives, including building cultural knowledge, encouraging cultural practices and leadership. The growth of tribal cultural capacity is essential to protect and preserve our culture for the future.

To date the Ngāi Tahu Fund has completed 33 funding rounds, contributing more than $14 million to Ngāi Tahu individuals, whānau, hapū, Papatipu Rūnanga in Te Waipounamu and Taurahere Rōpū in the North Island and Australia.

The Ngāi Tahu Funds Committee, which is comprised of Ngāi Tahu leaders and funding experts, has to date received 1920 applications of which over 1,420 have been approved.

This includes people wanting to investigate their whānau whakapapa and history, plus groups hosting workshops on traditional arts like weaving and carving, along with environmental revitalisation projects.

As part of the application, a sponsor agreement will need to be completed and uploaded at the time of applying. A template for completion can be found here.

How to apply

Round 35 is open now and closes 5pm 31 March 2024

Apply on Te Kopa Ora - Ngāi Tahu Grants Portal using your Ngāi Tahu log in details.

You will need your six-digit whakapapa registration number and password to log in.

If you do not have these details, please call our contact centre on 0800 524 8248 (0800 Kāi Tahu).

If you do not recall the password, please click on the ‘Forgot your password?’ link here.

 

Round 36 will open 1 July 2024 and close 5pm 30 September 2024.

Please ensure applications are submitted by the cut off dates aforementioned. Late applications will not be accepted.