We believe that, in order to protect and enhance our natural environment while ensuring our rural sector can thrive and we can enjoy the environment for generations to come, we need to achieve more, faster. Our goal is making it easier for businesses and individuals to give to science-led innovation, and to increase the pool of funding available to those individuals and groups striving to improve and protect our ecosystems.

Canterbury’s unique landscapes are something to treasure. We know that Cantabrians, both urban and rural, are passionate about our whenua (land), awa (water) and rerenga rauropi (biodiversity). As we look to the future, ensuring our ecosystems thrive is critically important.

Did you know that less than 4 per cent of money gifted in New Zealand last year went towards the environment?

The fund will support:

• Projects that will make a proven ecological impact.
• Innovative ideas that could be game changing, on farms or elsewhere
• Individuals and organisations leading ecological support and recovery.

The fund is backed by our partnership with Environment Canterbury, a long-term commitment to support evidence-based projects and organisations across all ecosystems in Waitaha Canterbury.

Eighty per cent of funds raised annually will be distributed the following year, with the other 20 per cent used to build an endowment fund. These funds will be invested with some of the income distributed annually and the remainder reinvested.

A panel of technical experts from across Waitaha Canterbury will advise the Foundation on what projects and organisations to back. This group will be appointed in early 2023.

Donations can be made to the fund via our website. Applications will be called for in 2023.

#Kaitiakitanga #BetteryCityNZ #BetterRegionNZ