Applications have now closed for the Wai Ora Fund  2026

Applications for the 2026 funding round closed at 5pm 21 August 2026.

Each year, funding becomes available to iwi, hapū, and whānau to support their aspirations for freshwater fisheries in their rohe. 

Whether that’s wānanga to gather and share traditional fishing knowledge, research to better understand the health of freshwater fisheries, or work to safeguard freshwater taonga species and their kainga.

$250,000 pūtea available, up to $50,000 per project

Te Wai Māori Trust recognise the need and value of supporting projects by iwi, hapū and whānau whose mahi directly supports our taonga species and their kainga.

Over $2.5 million has been awarded to more than 70 projects through the Wai Ora Fund since 2012. To check out some of the previous projects made possible through the Wai Ora Fund click here.

To ensure you hear about the next funding round, please click the link below to join the pānui list.

Key Dates 

Thursday 9 July – Fund Opened

The application SmartyGrants portal went live.

Friday 21 August, 5pm – Fund Closed

Please note we will not accept late applications

September – October

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications and funding agreements will be prepared with successful applications.

Through the Wai Ora Fund, Te Wai Māori seeks to enable Māori to develop expertise to promote and advance Māori interests in freshwater fisheries through development, research and education. The purpose of the fund is to:

  • Increase Iwi and hapū capacity and capability in freshwater fisheries and their ability to exercise rangatiratanga over their freshwater fisheries
  • Promote and share indigenous fisheries expertise, knowledge and understanding
  • Increase the quality and range of information to Iwi and hapū on freshwater fisheries and their interests thereof
  • Enhance the health and wellbeing of the indigenous fisheries and their environment.

Applicants should note the following general information for the Wai Ora Fund:

  • In accordance with the Act, funds will only be distributed to the following groups:
    • Māori[1]
    • Mandated Iwi Organisations
    • Other Māori Organisations
  • Wai Ora Fund applications must not exceed $50,000 (ex GST) for the total project.
  • Applications must include a minimum 20% cash or in-kind contribution to the total project cost.
  • All funding applications must refer to GST exclusive figures.
  • Applicants shall provide evidence that they have the necessary resource consents and/or other approval(s) from the relevant landowner and/or consent authorities.
  • Applicants should show that the beneficial outcomes from the project will be enduring, meaning they won’t need ongoing funding from Te Wai Māori.
  • A specific project is eligible for funding for a maximum of three funding rounds. An organisation may seek funding for an entirely new project beyond this.
  • Past performance of applicants who have previously received funding will be taken into consideration by Te Wai Māori in assessing applications.
  • Applications must demonstrate that projects are technically achievable.
  • All applications will be assessed by a panel appointed by Te Wai Māori. The panel members will collectively have expertise across a range of applications we expect to receive. The panel will consider applications and make funding recommendations to the Te Wai Māori Trust Board. The Board will then consider the panel’s recommendations and make final funding decisions.
  • Successful applicants will be subject to the terms and conditions of an individual funding agreement.
  • Te Wai Māori Trust can only enter into a funding agreement with a legal entity.

[1] ‘Māori’ has the meaning provided in Section 5 of the Māori Fisheries Act – Māori means a person of the Māori race of New Zealand; and includes a descendant of any such person.

Funding will not be provided for:

  • Costs relating to motor vehicles and buildings
  • Costs relating to business operating expenses
  • Retrospective costs
  • Intellectual property royalties
  • Commercial ventures
  • Legal advice
  • Resource consents
  • Scholarships/PhD
  • Water Conservation Orders

Te Wai Māori will prioritise funding for projects that:

  • Address critical data gaps identified in the report commissioned by Te Wai Māori Trust titled Understanding Taonga Freshwater Fish Populations in Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Empower iwi, hapū and whānau to exercise their tikanga, mātauranga and customary practices in relation to freshwater fisheries.
  • Have a strong emphasis on Māori-led cultural monitoring and assessment tools, and how this data can positively impact freshwater fisheries.
  • Promote strong partnerships and collaboration, including between iwi, hapū and whānau and other roopu.
  • Build iwi, hapū capacity to respond to the degradation of freshwater fisheries.
  • Protect and restore wetlands through native planting and/or improved hydrology.

The Act requires Te Wai Māori to consider the extent to which funding applications:

  • Assist in coordinating and consolidating the activities of recipients with the activities of agencies involved in freshwater fisheries and habitat management, and
  • Provide a model that can be applied by iwi, hapū and whānau, and
  • Te Wai Māori must also consider the extent to which a proposed project is being undertaken by other mandated iwi organisations or agencies, and
  • The extent the functions of Te Wai Māori under the Act are being undertaken by other agencies.

The following reporting requirements are required:

  • Funding recipients will provide written milestone reports and invoices according to the agreed dates within the Funding Agreement.
  • Claims for payments will be lodged as invoices against milestones and certified correct by the project manager and financial manager. Note: proof of expenditure must be available for performance validations and audit purposes but need not be submitted with a claim.
  • The invoice must be either an IRD compliant invoice or an IRD GST compliant tax invoice.
  • Claims for payments must be supported by milestone reports/deliverables lodged by the project manager in accordance with the Funding Agreement. Te Wai Māori may withhold any payments if it is deemed that a recipient has failed to observe or perform its obligations under the Funding Agreement. Failure to comply with the Funding Agreement terms may result in the withdrawal of funding support.

The funding agreement includes an intellectual property clause that allows either party to make a written request of the other party regarding the use of intellectual property (IP).

The reason for this approach is that any IP is to be jointly owned. This means that if either party wants to share or publish any IP, they will first need the permission from the other party. This gives protection to both Te Wai Māori and successful applicants regarding any IP that is produced or developed in accordance with the funding agreement.

Te Wai Māori should be acknowledged as a source of funding in all publications and publicity regarding grant funded projects. Te Wai Māori may specify the form and content of such an acknowledgment.

The Te Wai Māori logo should be used wherever possible.

Please note that Te Wai Māori will promote funded projects via social media, Te Wai Māori website, Annual Reports, Te Wai Māori Freshwater Fisheries Conferences and other relevant publications and events.

Interested? Join our pānui list

Click the button below to join our pānui list and be notified of future funding rounds.

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Past Funding Recipients 

Aki Tai Here Ltd | Tirotiro ki te Wai Project

Aki Tai Here Ltd received Wai Ora funding to deliver Tirotiro ki te Wai, a project focused on embedding māramataka and local mātauranga-informed freshwater monitoring techniques into habitat restoration sites across the Whangārei Heads area and wider Te Tai Tokerau. 

Building on restoration work that had been underway since 2021, the project integrated mātauranga Māori with practical habitat restoration to strengthen mana whenua led kaitiakitanga. Through the development of site-specific monitoring methods informed by local knowledge and the observations of kaitiaki, the project supported a deeper understanding of freshwater ecosystem health while enhancing restoration efforts in wetlands and riparian areas. 

The project also strengthened connections between haukāinga, whānau, hapū and iwi and their ancestral whenua and wai by facilitating knowledge transfer between kaitiaki, restoration practitioners and technical experts. Working alongside landowners, community organisations and government agencies, Tirotiro ki te Wai built capability to ensure that mātauranga Māori continues to inform freshwater management across their rohe. 

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For further information on eligibility or the priority areas for funding you can contact us via email at: twmfunds@waimaori.maori.nz.

Setting tuna

 Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō project setting tuna (Photo credit: Naomi Aporo-Manihera)