The annual Eastland Group Wairoa Contestable Community Grants Scheme, which focusses on restoring and regenerating the health of the Wairoa River, is now open for applications.

The fund is provided by Eastland Group and distributed and managed by Wairoa District Council, with community organisations encouraged to apply.

The fund is for locally led projects that follow the four principles as they relate to the Wairoa River: protect, restore, health and wellbeing.

Projects should support education and community outreach initiatives, as well as encouraging young people to engage in activities that promote healthy relationships with the Wairoa River.

Promoting the relevance and importance of the Wairoa River in the lives of the Wairoa community is another focus.

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said Council remains dedicated to restoring the mana and life force (mauri) to the Wairoa River.

“We have had some feedback from the community around maintaining our focus on river health and restoration, which is why the fund continues to focus on our river.”

Mr Little was really impressed with the quality of applicants so far.

Previous grant winners have been making a positive impact by carrying out native tree planting and educational programmes around caring for the precious awa.

In 2020, three local groups were awarded $5,000 each: Wairoa Community Ngahere Nursery, the Wairoa Awa Restoration Project and Hinemihi Marae Nursery.

“Hinemihi Marae Nursery gratefully acknowledge the assistance from the Eastland/WDC River Fund which has contributed towards mauri restoration for our precious awa by supporting the small native rakau nursery with plants going out to projects at Anewa Station, including urupa and bank erosion projects for Pakowhai Marae and Whakapau, as well as supporting a Taiao wananga in 2020. Mauri ora.”

Eastland Group chief executive Matt Todd said there are so many different groups in Wairoa which are working with the community to enhance the mauri of the awa. Now in its fifth year, it’s great to see the fund being used to support positive change.

To apply, download the application form from Wairoa District Council website: https://www.wairoadc.govt.nz/documents-and-forms/

Hard copies can be collected from the Wairoa i-SITE or the council’s main office.

Applications close at 5pm on Tuesday November 30.    

Any queries about the Eastland Group Wairoa Contestable Community Grants Fund can be directed to Rubyanne Edwards, 068387440 Wairoa i-SITE rubyanne@wairoadc.govt.nz

For more information:

Rubyanne Edwards

Tourism and Community Development Team Leader

06 838 7440

10 November 2021

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