Whenua Whānui Fund
What projects can KMR fund?
Projects must be based in the Kaipara Moana catchment. From the start, KMR has supported sediment reduction projects near waterways. This remains an important focus for KMR given that river- and streambanks are a major source of sediment loss from the land into the Kaipara Moana, particularly in the Auckland region.
Today, KMR invests in a wider range of projects across the landscape, including supporting appropriate treatment of steep, erodible hill country where there is a high risk of sediment loss to waterways.
KMR can coinvest in:
- Fencing to protect waterways
- Native planting near waterways and the coastal margin
- Projects that treat erodible hill country:
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- Continuous canopy and permanent forest cover using native species or non-weedy, non-pine exotic species (e.g. eucalypts or redwoods)
- Fencing and management to support regeneration of native forest
- Space planting of poplars while maintaining some grazing.
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KMR prioritises projects on steep land with bare earth or signs of active movement and erosion, particularly if the land drains directly into a waterway or the Kaipara Moana itself. We also prioritise land previously affected by floods, storms and cyclones.
What activities are funded?
KMR’s Whenua Whānui Fund makes a contribution to work on the whenua. We can contribute up to 70% of the estimated project costs for agreed activities.
Under this Fund, KMR can also support:
- Project Management, Engagement & Education. KMR can contribute a modest amount to groups for managing a project, engaging with potential project participants, and educating the community about the restoration project. This contribution needs to be matched with in-kind contributions from the landowners, iwi/hapū, marae or community group.
- Some Sediment Reduction Plan development costs. To unlock KMR funding, a Sediment Reduction Plan must be developed. Participating groups can identify a suitably skilled individual to be accredited by KMR to engage with the community or group to develop technical plans for each project. KMR funds such time on a “by-project” basis. Alternatively, a KMR Field Advisor outside of the project can develop Sediment Reduction Plans free of charge.
Who can apply?
KMR’s Whenua Whānui Fund is open to collectives such as iwi/hapū, marae, community groups, landcare groups, catchment groups, kaitiaki groups, schools, trusts administering land with multiple ownership or land with fish and game purposes, and reserve boards to create and lead sediment reduction projects.
The Fund can support projects on collectively owned land, public land, and land administered for fish and game purposes, as well as privately-owned land where the landowner agrees. Both legal entities and non-legal entities can partner with a fund-holder under the Whenua Whānui Fund.
How does the funding work?
Submit your interest in applying for KMR funding.
A Kaipara Moana Remediation Field Advisor (Field Advisor) will contact you to schedule a site visit.
The Field Advisor will assist you to develop your sediment reduction plan and identify possible projects eligible for funding.
The Field Advisor will submit your application to a KMR representative for approval.
Once the project is approved, a contract will be signed by you and a KMR representative, you can invoice KMR and a 1st payment is made.
Work on the project can only begin after the contract is signed.
After the project is completed, a KMR Field Advisor will visit your site to confirm that work is completed to the agreed standards.
After the KMR representative signs off your project, you send through a final invoice.
What we can't fund
KMR can’t retrospectively fund projects – get in touch with us early so we can support your project! We cannot fund projects required under resource consent, nor projects to landscape or beautify a site.
We cannot fund:
- Capital infrastructure
- Establishment costs for a business
- Water quality monitoring
- Research
We typically support projects over 0.25 hectares in size, and projects on land blocks over 20 hectares. Other criteria also apply, so get in touch to check if your project is eligible for KMR support.