Gulf Innovation Fund Together G.I.F.T

Between 2016 and 2022, G.I.F.T explored and refined approaches to test, scale and create new systems to restore the mauri of Tīkapa Moana Te Moananui-ā-Toi (the Hauraki Gulf). A small team of Foundation North staff and Centre for Social Impact associates developed a fluid, nimble and collaborative funding mechanism to support these approaches; from seeding experimental initiatives, scaling projects shown to have potential and investing in larger scale kaupapa looking to effect systemic change. G.I.F.T-funded projects also received capacity and evaluation support from the Centre for Social Impact.

Via 69 projects from late 2016 to 2022, key impacts emerging via G.I.F.T-supported mahi come together around six significant areas of contribution:

• Te Tiriti based marine protection
• Mana Whenua action to restore mauri
• Shellfish restoration
• Education and advocacy
• New knowledge
• New technologies

While G.I.F.T as a standalone fund ended in March 2022, Foundation North remains committed to Tīkapa Moana Te Moananui-ā-Toi and her people through its other funding avenues. In this new phase of transition, the intention is to integrate G.I.F.T-related activities into the Regenerative Environment focus area, and we will do this by continuing

• to support the momentum for the restoration of Tīkapa Moana Te Moananui-ā-Toi
• to embed G.I.F.T learnings and practices into the mahi of Foundation North
• to share G.I.F.T learnings and practices with others

Lasting connections - kotahitanga has been a key theme of G.I.F.T, with grantees:

• listening to and amplifying the voice of native species and ecosystems to inform regeneration
• challenging outdated practices and systems that exclude or undermine Indigenous knowledge and self determination
• promoting leadership and learning for future generations
• engaging and collaborating with warmth and respect.

G.I.F.T has supported two initiatives involving Te Tiriti o Waitangi based approaches to marine restoration. Both initiatives involve long term collaborations to restore mauri.

Ōtata/Noises Islands

The Neureuter family is committed to a Te Tiriti based co-management approach with mana whenua to protect and restore Ōtata (the Noises group of islands). Since 2017, GIFT has supported marine research and relationship building by the Neureuters with Mana Whenua and across sectors, culminating in a collaborative submission in September 2021 to government for Ōtata/Noises to attain marine protection (currently being assessed by government).

Waiheke Marine Project

This co-led Ngāti Pāoa and Waiheke community initiative aims to protect and regenerate Waiheke’s marine environment through action-based kaitiakitanga – guardianship. GIFT supported the emergence and growth of this Te Tiriti based approach (Phase One 2019-2021) and continues to support Phase Two 2022-2024, which takes this approach to scale island wide through action-based mahi.

In its final year of grantmaking ending in March 2022, G.I.F.T has supported the following action by Mana Whenua to restore mauri:

• Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Waiora Ltd: Developed a holistic delivery plan for Ngāi Tai taiao streams.
• Pou Tāngata Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Community Development Trust: Support for strategy implementation to increase capacity for te taiao regeneration (in progress).
• Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust: Co-designing their 50-year road map to step change for the Iwi, including Ahu Moana kaupapa to uplift te mana o te wai me te mauri o te wai (in progress).
• HSB Consulting (Awhi Group): Māori-led direct Wellington-based support across government and political parties to improve the mauri of the Hauraki Gulf, alongside Mana Whenua and communities (in progress).
• Ngātiwai Trust Board: To initiate Te Marae Moana o Ngātiwai to support and scale up hau kaaianga, hapū and marae te taiao regeneration activities (in progress). G.I.F.T celebrates the many people who give their time, mātauranga and aroha to support a great diversity of mahi that together will have positive intergenerational impact on te taiao and her people.

G.I.F.T's Year Five Impact Report outlines what has been learned and achieved through five years of collaborative efforts to restore the mauri of Tikapa Moana Te Moananui-ā-Toi.

Explore at giftreport.org.nz