Leading from the Land Tairāwhiti

06/10/2026

Radice Soil Solutions is hosting a workshop Friday 16 October that we want to share details on - and it's FREE

06/10/2026

Grants Announcement

Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu
With feathers the bird will fly

Congratulations to all the recipients of our most recent funding round.
17 grants have been awarded across the rohe, including 10 engagement grants and 7 project grants, totalling $147,792. This brings our total funded projects to 36, with $380,563 distributed to date.

We are thrilled to see more emerging groups applying for funding, alongside an increasing variety of application topics.
For a full outline of each grant, visit the news section at www.lftl.co.nz.

Project Grants

1 - Ngātapa Community Landcare Group
Funding to identify, map, and monitor adult fish habitat across Ngātapa tributaries.

2 - Mangaotane
A biodiversity study in November/December 2026 to understand the effectiveness of ongoing predator control work.

3 - Waimatā Catchment Group
Support to help identify and address fish passage barriers in the Waimatā Catchment, in a way that works for both fish movement and farm operations.

4 - Waimatā Catchment Group
Back-office support including overheads and project facilitation.

5 - Whāngārā Community Catchment Group
Extending the Animal Pest Control Pilot Study into a Biodiversity and Pest Control Review across the catchment.

6 - Eastern Whio Link Charitable Trust
Back-office support funding for a part-time coordinator role.

7 - Ngā Uri o Ngāi Tāwhiri
Water monitoring on four sites on the Waikanae Awa that aligns with cultural priorities and hapū environmental objectives.

Engagement Grants

1 - Tokomaru Bay Sports Club - Community wānanga
Bringing together whānau and local pūkenga to co-design a five-year strategic and operational roadmap for Whare Tipu.

2 - Puke Hau native planting and sustainability - Community wānanga
Bringing whānau, Hatea-a-Rangi School, and the wider community together to shape a succession and restoration roadmap for the Puke Hau land block.

3 - Whareponga Whenua Collective - Wetland restoration planning
Tieki Repo wānanga involving Hauawhio Nursery, Kahuitara and local wetland sites on collective whenua.

4 - Mana Tāne ki Ruatoria - Pest control and ngahere restoration wānanga
Supporting community kōrero and practical planning around pest control and ngahere restoration.

5 - Te Whare Tipu o Awatere - Mahinga kai wānanga
Co-funding to learn and develop practical skills in native flora identification, seed sourcing and propagation, and māra kai/food sovereignty.

6 - Ngā Mokopuna o Te Whanau Pani - Wānanga
Connecting wider whānau and community with the ongoing restoration project of Ihungia wetland.

7 - Tairāwhiti Ungulate Group - Community hui
Discussing environmental, biodiversity, and primary sector impacts associated with ungulate populations across the region.

8 - Wainui Beach Community Catchment Group - Community seminar
Supporting the development of the Hamanatua Stream Restoration Plan.

9 - Manaaki Matakāoa - Hunting competition and engagement event

10 - East Coast Hunting Fishing and Taiao - Wetland wānanga
A wetland wānanga focused on local knowledge, restoration planning, and practical action for taiao outcomes.

04/09/2026

Project Reflection

Paraire is always a good time to look back on the week that's been.
We've decided it's also a good opportunity to reflect on some of the great mahi that happens with group's funded by LFTL.
As part of our commitment to them, every group receives a web page communicating their vision, history, milestones, and links to media. Importantly it's also a place to showcase the mahi they have done with our funding, their learnings, outcomes, and reflections.
Project pages are an excellent resource for anyone to find what's happening in the region, get specific information from various trials that are underway, and even get motivation to create something within their own community.
This week we're shining a light on Eastern Whio Link Charitable Trusts page. We're not going to give much away other than the link, so click away and enjoy a 5 minute read about a committed group doing great things in taiao.
https://www.lftl.co.nz/projects-eastern-whio

27/08/2026

27/08/2026

A beautiful and inspiring journey takes another step forward

25/08/2026

LEARNING AND ACTION PROJECTS ONLINE
https://www.lftl.co.nz/projects

Every Group that receives funding from LFTL for an Engagement or Project Grant receives a project page on our website, as part of our commitment to them and their mahi.

It's a place for catchment communities to share what they achieved with their funding from us, and an opportunity to talk about their purpose, add in milestones, links to their social media, websites, YouTube, and published articles.
For some groups, it might be the only place where they can share and showcase what they do.

From photos of pest control and downloadable reports, through to project outcomes and learnings, it's all here, for our wider community to learn from and be inspired by.

Click the link, have a looksee, find something that interests you, and settle in for some great insights and grassroots inspiration in action.

19/08/2026

17/08/2026

ENTRIES CLOSE THIS FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST!

2026 Hunting Competition - email [email protected] for an entry form 🦌

See flyer for details - all animals culled must be from within the Waimatā Catchment 🐐

11/08/2026

Thanks for all your mahi Kerry Worsnop.
We want to take a moment to shine a light on one of our Board members who is stepping back from Leading from the Land Tairawhiti's (LFTL) governance team.
Kerry Worsnop joined the LFTL Steering Group in 2024, bringing with her enthusiasm, energy, a clear minded analytical approach, along with on the ground experience of farming in Tairawhiti. Kerry was a vital member of the team as LFTL transitioned to becoming an Incorporated Society and registered charitable organisation in 2025. Since then, LFTL has distributed funding to 19 projects across the region to the value of $230, 460.
Kerry, we are a stronger organisation thanks to you, and LFTL is well positioned to grow from the solid platform you have helped create. We are incredibly grateful that we had the benefit of your skills and expertise as we established LFTL and your contributions will continue to shape our vision and values well into the future.
Haere ra Kerry.
We thank you for your mahi, we will miss you, and we wish you well.

11/08/2026

Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au
I am the river, and the river is me

Recently we had the privilege of being asked to ride along with some members of Te Wheao Catchment Group, as they journeyed the upper reaches of te wheao stream. They were kind enough to korero with us in front of the camera too.
Too much Audrey, Miles, and Tom - we appreciate your invite and words.
Te Wheao Catchment Group is just starting their journey as a group, and we look forward to following their progress and supporting where we can.

Music track: Enlivening by Pufino
Source: https://freetouse.com/music