0800 KAI TAHU (0800 524 8248)
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 32 funding rounds, contributing more than $13.4 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 1859 applications of which over 1,367 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.
Please note, there are two funding rounds per year:
The Ngāi Tahu Funds Committee meet in mid-May for the funding round that closes the last Friday of March and mid-November for the funding round that closes the last Friday of September. Applications will be reviewed and decisions will be made on all applications received. Approved projects will receive funding at the end of May and the end of November for respective funding rounds, therefore projects cannot start prior to this timeframe (we do not provide retrospective funding).
To apply, please complete one of the following applications:
Before completing the online application, please ensure you have all of the required documents. If you are the individual applying for funding, you must know both yours and your project sponsor’s whakapapa registration numbers (please ring our contact centre to obtain this information: 0800 KAI TAHU).
Our online form has a ‘Save Draft’ function which allows you to save and exit your application at any time, however please ensure your application is submitted to us by the closing date.
For any other queries about the Ngāi Tahu Fund please contact a Ngāi Tahu Funds Advisor on 0800 524 8248 or email: [email protected]
The Ngāi Tahu Fund recently announced a new funding initiative, Taiawatea, which aims to recognise rangatahi who are keen to develop and express leadership in Ngāi Tahutanga. The Fund will consider applications from Ngāi Tahu rangatahi to engage in cultural leadership opportunities in mahi toi, te reo, tikanga, whenua, mana tangata, ngā uara, mahinga kai,…
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