The Murihiku Rūnaka and Rio Tinto NZAS Community Development Fund is inviting applications for the 2026 calendar year.
This will be the fourth year the fund has been available, with $500,000 available to distribute in 2026.
The fund was launched in 2023 as part of a commitment when Murihiku Rūnaka and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, NZAS and Rio Tinto signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2022.
The fund is seeking applications from community organisations in Murihiku Southland, who have projects aligned with one or more of four focus areas that reflect the agreed Rio Tinto NZAS, Ngāi Tahu priorities.
Projects include enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion and wellbeing outcomes across the community, inter-generational culture, heritage, conservation, and environmental outcomes, unlocking community resilience through education and workforce development, and contributing to the region’s economic development and climate transition by supporting businesses to expand and new industries to emerge.
Rio Tinto NZAS Community & Social Performance Manager, Dion Williams, highlighted: “The number of quality applications received since the Fund was established makes decisions about successful projects challenging, but it’s a great challenge to manage.
“Some impressive projects have not been able to be supported in previous years, but we are happy to receive applications from those who were unsuccessful previously.”
Te Rūnaka o Awarua representative, Jacqui Caine, added: “The Fund aims to invest in a positive and sustainable future for mana whenua and the wider Southland community. We look forward to receiving more high-calibre applications and supporting organisations with projects that will contribute to a vibrant and thriving Murihiku.”
