Fund supports community groups to better our environment

In its fourth year, the Waitaha Action to Impact Fund (WAI Fund) will support 24 community-led projects across Waitaha in 2024.

• In 2024, we received 78 applications for our fund, totalling $1.6m, which far exceeded the funds available ($300,000).
• The contestable fund aims to build community engagement and action for a better environment in the takiwā/region.
• The successful applicants will be working on all sorts of exciting projects, from biodiversity, education and pest management to water quality management, trapping and planting.

Examples of successful applicants

Wairewa Rūnanga Incorporated

Wairewa Rūnanga Incorporated were awarded $15,000 for their Wairewa Mahinga Kai Catchment Group water quality monitoring plan project.

Project purpose: Surface water quality monitoring for three years at six sites across Te Roto o Wairewa catchment to inform future on-ground interventions. The purpose of the monitoring plan is to collect additional data to that of regional and city councils to help determine what parts of the catchment might be contributing known contaminants (phosphorus, sediment and E. coli), resulting in a more focused mitigation approach.

Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group

Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group were awarded $20,000 for their ARRG Field Operations project.

Project purpose: Supporting the volunteers (with paid staff) to protect the endangered bird populations on the Ashley Rakahuri River.

Upper Rangitata Gorge Landcare Group (Incorporated)

Upper Rangitata Gorge Landcare Group (Incorporated) were awarded $15,000 for weed control in the Upper Rangitata Riverbed and its tributaries.

Project purpose: Control of invasive weeds such as broom, gorse, willow, false tamarisk, lupins and any new weeds encountered. This will reduce cover for predators that prey on the endangered migratory birds that nest in the riverbed.

Satisfy Food Rescue

Satisfy Food Rescue were awarded $15,000 for their project to reduce food waste, respond to climate change and help to make our community more food secure.

Project purpose: Satisfy Food Rescue redirects edible surplus food that was destined for landfill or animal feed, to where it is needed most in our community. This means collecting surplus food from supermarkets, growers, wholesalers and cafes and redistributing it to food banks, community meal providers and schools.

Christchurch Envirohub Trust

Christchurch Envirohub Trust were provided with two lots of funding for two separate projects.

Project purpose:

Project one: The first was $8,000 for their Te Tuna Tāone / Urban Eel – action learning programme. The Te Tuna Tāone ākonga/students take on-the-ground actions to improve the health of the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem for urban longfin tuna in their catchment. Their mahi aims to mitigate the impact of climatic changes on longfin tuna, within their community.

Project two: The second was $20,000 for their capacity building in the local environmental sector and provision of public-facing digital and physical resources. Workshops, events and digital and in-person resources will be provided to enhance the capacity and capability of the local environmental sector and help activate more members of the community to be involved in grassroots solutions to environmental opportunities and challenges.