Horizons Regional Council dishes out $341,772 for climate and biodiversity

A Gribble Family Trust wetland restoration planting day in Whanganui, with support from Brunswick School.

Thirty-six community projects will share $341,772 in climate and biodiversity funding.

Horizons Regional Council chairwoman Rachel Keedwell said she was pleased Horizons could provide support to communities through the Kanorau Koiora Taketake – Indigenous Biodiversity Community Grant and Pūtea Hapori Urupare Āhuarangi - Community Climate Response Fund this year.

“The impacts of climate change are intertwined with impacts on our native biodiversity, and it makes sense that we have grants to cover both these areas,” she said.

“We are in the middle of a biodiversity crisis, so we welcome actions that help people to look after our taonga that make Aotearoa New Zealand so unique. Our Kanorau Koiora Taketake – Indigenous Biodiversity Community Grant is one way we can achieve this.

“Cyclone Gabrielle has made it really clear that helping communities become more resilient to the effects of the climate is essential. Our Pūtea Hapori Urupare Āhuarangi - Community Climate Response Fund is a way to kick-start action at the grassroots level.

“This year, we received a record number of applications regionwide across the two funds, and my only disappointment is we don’t have enough to fund them all,” Keedwell said.

Applications received are reviewed and decisions for which receive the final funding are made by a panel of councillors. This year, a total of $341,774 has been awarded from the two funds, including to six multi-year projects from previous years.

“We look forward to seeing the outcomes of these projects and watching our communities build their capacity to take action on topics where it really will make a difference,” Keedwell said.

The Kanorau Koiora Taketake – Indigenous Biodiversity Community Grant recipients are:

• Atihau Whanganui Incorporated – Bush restoration (Whanganui)
• Blue Duck Station – Whio protection and expansion (Ruapehu)
• Bushy Park – Three projects including ecological restoration and hihi project (Whanganui)
• Castlecliff Coastcare – Dune restoration (Whanganui)
• Friends of Taihape – Willow removal (Rangitīkei)
• Gribble Family Trust – Wetland restoration (Whanganui)
• Kotiata Wetlands – Wetland restoration (Rangitīkei)
• Lone Pine Property Trust - Maunga Tia Kiwi Restoration Project (Ruapehu)
• Maata Kotahi Partnership Trust – Trapping for kiwi release (Rangitīkei)
• Ngawakahiamoe – Three projects, including a regeneration project with predator control and education resources (Horowhenua)
• Ohaumoko Family Trust – Forest development in Mangatipona Stream valley (Rangitīkei)
• Peter and Ella Grant – Matatū manu restoration (Whanganui)
• Project Tongariro – Rongokaupo wetland and biodiversity restoration (Ruapehu)
• Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre – Two projects including Te Kōhanga Rakau o Pūkaha and Old Man’s Beard control (Tararua)
• Raetihi School – Native restoration and outdoor classroom (Ruapehu)
• Rangitīkei Rivers Catchment – Old Man’s Beard control (Rangitīkei)
• Retaruke Catchment Group – Retaruke trap bank (Ruapehu)
• Sally Pearce – Rangitīkei remnant weed busting (Rangitīkei)
• The Eco School – Gully restoration (Whanganui)
• Waimarama Freeman – Te Mata o te Whenua (Manawatū)
• Waitahora Landcare Collective – Old Man’s Beard control phase two (Tararua)
• Wildlife Foxton Trust – Possum trap library (Horowhenua)

The Pūtea Hapori Urupare Āhuarangi - Community Climate Response Fund recipients are:

• Bulls School - School orchard (Rangitīkei)
• Environment Network Manawatū – Growing gardens and communities (Palmerston North)
• Heritage Food Crops Research Trust – Food resilience (Whanganui)
• Mangaweka School – Ngahere cultivation, including edible gardens (Rangitīkei)
• Palmerston North Street Van Inc. – Electrical testing (Palmerston North)
• The Eco School – Resilient households (Whanganui)
• Te Awanui a Rua Charitable Trust – Kaitiakitanga kaimahi for rangatahi (multiple districts)
• Wildlife Foxton Trust – Spinifex seed germination for dune restoration (Horowhenua)
• Woven Rivers Charitable Trust – Rangatahi climate camp (Whanganui)