Our Waitaha Action to Impact Fund has given 35 organisations around the region/takiwa a much-needed financial boost.

The Waitaha Action to Impact Fund is a contestable fund for community organisations in Canterbury. Funding has been given out to a range of community organisations for the past two years. The fund aims to build community engagement and action for a better environment in the region.

For the 2022/23 year, the fund had $600,000 available, up from the $200,000 available in the pilot round in 2021/22. Some of the applicants from 2021 were successful in receiving further allocations for 2022/23.

In 2022, 66 new applicants were received, totalling approximately $1.3m. The 2022 successful applicants are featured here.

Encouraging and empowering the community

One of the successful applicants in 2022 was the Hurunui Biodiversity Trust from the Hurunui Waiau zone. The group was awarded $20,000 to provide education, resources, and networking services that will encourage and empower people to value and look after native biodiversity on their properties and in their communities.

Hurunui Biodiversity Trust’s chairperson Dave Nicholls said they were thrilled to be awarded the funding and it was certainly worth putting in an application.

“It is gratifying to know that Environment Canterbury values our trust’s existence and achievements to date, and recognises the importance of supporting an independent, local organisation that is well-connected to Hurunui’s diverse and widespread communities.”

The Hurunui Biodiversity Trust is a community-led organisation founded in 2019 to, among other things, encourage people to understand and value biodiversity and take care of it as part of living in Hurunui.

Dave said the funds will help the group develop and disseminate information and resources to key communities in Hurunui — in particular farmers and other landowners.

“Last year the trust, in conjunction with the Hurunui District Landcare Group, researched and developed a report based on 12 specific geological, geographic, and biological zones. Each zone defined is identified by the type of native species found there, the threats to their preservation, and priority actions to create better outcomes for biodiversity.”

The key actions for 2023 now that they have received funding from the Waitaha Action to Impact Fund is to upgrade the group’s website to support online accessibility to the Hurunui Biodiversity Zones of Action Plan (HUBZAP) resource, print fact sheets and brochures, conduct community forums, support local actions and catchment groups, and provide advice in a responsive way.

“We will also be in a better position to collaborate with agencies such as Environment Canterbury, Department of Conservation, and Hurunui District Council, and reach out to other organisations active in the district, including businesses, farming groups, and NGOs.”

Restoring the mauri of freshwater springs

Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Network from the Christchurch West Melton zone was awarded $29,980 for their project Ngā Puna Wai. This project will restore the mauri of urban freshwater springs” the Cashmere Stream and the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River. The group will also facilitate a programme of work with mana whenua, councils, scientists, and community groups that will contribute to healthy freshwater springs.

Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Network’s Rachel Barker said the funds will really enable the group to carry out work for the betterment of the environment.