GIFT Dashboard
GIFT began in 2016 as a $5m fund, with additional funding of $2m (2019) and $2m (2020) approved by the Foundation North Board. An additional $3m was approved to The Nature Conservancy by the Foundation North Board in 2019 to establish a Challenge Fund (see here for more information)
GIFT funds at three levels. Experimentation and risk taking is supported, with some failure expected.
Level
Funding
– Under $50k
- Test good ideas
- Rapid learning and prototyping
Level
Funding
– $50k and over
Level
Funding
– No funding parameters
Total applications received since 2016
Seed
Scale
System
Funding Awarded
List of Grantees
2017
Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust
$5k novel methods of engaging community for predator control.
link 1
Envirostrat Limited
$50k feasibility study for low impact high value seafood sector.
link 1 | link 2
Southern Seabird Solutions
$50k to investigate the viability of a seabird smart fishing assurance programme for the Hauraki Gulf.
link 1 | link 2
Ecomatters Environment Trust – Stage one
$20k to work with Crave Global to develop a community/business engagement online platform.
link 1 | link 2
Plastic Bag Free St Heliers
$2k campaign to reduce single use plastic bags.
link 1
Mōhio Research Limited
$50k to develop a business case for impact bonds for native forest.
link 1 | link 2
Paula Buckley
$5k to prototype a sea cleaning water drone.
link 1
The Noises Trust – Stage one
$50k to develop a model for co-managed marine protection.
link 1
Blake – Stage one
$275k to develop the NZ Virtual Reality project.
link 1
National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
$107k for seafloor mapping to help protect significant marine environments.
link 1
Te Toki Voyaging Trust Inc
$50k rangatahi kaitaki programme in conjunction with Umupuia Marae.
link 1 | Link 2
University of Auckland Foundation (Jenny Hillman)
$150k for shellfish restoration technique research.
Sustainable Business Network – Stage one
$40k on what works to restore healthy waters including reducing sediment and heavy metals.
link 1 | Link 2
The Nature Conservancy Trust – Stage one
$40k to establish a shellfish restoration coordination unit.
link 1 | Link 2
Sustainable Coastlines
$2k to create a game that engages people about rubbish in the Hauraki Gulf.
link 1 | Link 2
Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation (Umbrella for Young Ocean Explorers) Stage one
$137k to produce Hauraki Gulf online content for children.
link 1 | LINK 2 | Link 3
Southern Seabird Solutions
$27k to engage the charter boat fishing sector to reduce seabird mortality.
link 1 | Link 2
2018
Ecomatters Environment Trust – Stage two
$141k to prototype, promote and scale up online campaigns.
Link 1 | Link 2
University of Auckland Foundation (Umbrella for Hauraki Gulf Watershed project) Stage one
$35k to prototype hearts and minds campaigns.
Link 1
Northern New Zealand Seabird Trust
$180k to research how seabirds respond to environmental issues.
Link 1 | Link 2
Envirostrat Limited (Umbrella for Dave Kellian)
$50k to trial a new fishing trap to reduce bycatch for commercial fishers.
Link 1 | Link 2
WAI NZ Limited (Riverwatch)
$275k to develop and implement a water monitoring prototype
Link 1
Not Your Average Fish
$43k to prototype an online marketplace for sustainable fishing and consumers.
Link 1
University of Auckland Foundation (Craig Radford)
$50k to explore using underwater sound to detect illegal fishing.
Link 1
University of Auckland Foundation (Rochelle Constantine)
$211k to research environmental influences of megafauna (e.g. whales and dolphins).
Link 1
Sustainable Business Network – Stage two
$396k to implement a co-ordinated campaign to improve water quality, reduce plastics and sediment.
Link 1 | Link 2
Thinxtra Solutions Ltd
$29k to trial SIGFOX technology for predator traps.
Link 1 | Link 2
University of Auckland Foundation (Craig Radford)
$25k applied research on rock lobsters to reduce kina barrens.
2019
Unity House (Tui Williams) – Stage one
$25k Oceans Lab programme.
Link 1 | Link 2
Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust
$35k to undertake a community engagement project for the regeneration of kelp.
Link 1
Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation (Umbrella for Young Ocean Explorers) Stage two
$216k for the continued development of YOE resources, including Mātauranga Māori.
Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3
Blake – Stage two
$88k for Kaupapa Māori resources and school outreach.
Link 1 | Link 2
University of Auckland Foundation (Nick Shears)
$188k to research how to restore rocky reefs.
The Noises Trust – Stage two
$74k to engage stakeholders in co-managed marine protection for the Noises group of islands.
Link 1
McMullen and Wing
$40k to develop a business for electric ferries for the inner Hauraki Gulf.
Link 1 | Link 2
The Nature Conservancy
$3m to create a Challenge Fund for shellfish restoration for the Hauraki Gulf.
Link 1 | Link 2
Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust (Umbrella for Waiheke Marine Project) Stage one
$25k to engage Ngāti Pāoa uri.
Link 1 | Link 2
2020
Unity House – Stage two
$25k to support participants post Oceans Lab.
Link 1
University of Auckland Foundation (Elisabeth Vaneveld) Stage two
$60k to prototype a community engagement tool to connect to the marine environment.
Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Waiora Ltd
$50k to develop a holistic te taiao plan.
Link 1
Moana Tamaariki-Pohe and Louise Marra
$67k for the Indigenous to Earth – ngā uri o Papatūānuku me Ranginui leadership programme.
Link 1
Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust (Umbrella for Waiheke Marine Project) Stage two
$50k for continued Ngāti Pāoa uri engagement and future search event.
Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3
The Noises Trust – Stage three
$50k to engage stakeholders in co-managed marine protection for the Noises group of islands.
Link 1
Protect Aotea
$25k to engage with kaumātua and kuia to build a Mātauranga Māori database.
Link 1 | Link 2
Auckland Museum – Stage four
$358k in conjunction with Noises Trust and the University of Auckland to continue progress on co-managed marine protection for the Noises group of islands.
Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3
Emerge Institute – Stage three
$25k capacity building and organisational development (Oceans Lab follow-up).
2021
Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust (Umbrella for Waiheke Marine Project) – Stage Three
$25k to develop long term vision.
Link 1 | Link 2
Republic Films Ltd
$210k to film and produce a 7-part web miniseries to highlight the degradation of the Hauraki Gulf and propose solutions aligned with Mātauranga Māori.
Link 1 | Link 2
HSB consulting (Awhi Group)
$25k to generate broad based support for ocean restoration in conjunction with Mana Whenua and communities.
Link 1
Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust (Umbrella for Waiheke Marine Project) Stage four
$650k to scale the Waiheke Marine Project.
Link 1 | Link 2
Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust
$75k to co-design a 50-year strategy, including an Ahu Moana pilot. Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust.
Link 1
Pou Tāngata Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Community Development Trust
$40k to support strategy implementation for capacity development.
Link 1
2022
Ngātiwai Trust Board
$2.055m Te Moana Marae o Ngātiwai project to support hau kaaianga, hapū and marae te taiao initiatives
Link 1
Pūkorokoro Miranda Naturalists Trust
$427k in conjunction with Ngāti Pāoa to scale up te taiao initiatives incorporating te ao Māori and Mātauranga.
Link 1
Blake
$60k for the continuation of Kaihautū Māori Development Manager role.
Link 1
HSB consulting (Awhi Group)
$15k to continue to generate broad based support for ocean restoration in conjunction with Mana Whenua and communities.
Link 1