Almost $6 Million For 26 Projects To Restore The Waikato And Waipā Rivers
by Waikato River Authority · SCOOPThe Waikato River Authority has awarded almost $6 million to 26 projects in its 2026 funding round, supporting work to restore and protect the health and wellbeing of the Waikato and Waipā Rivers and their catchments.
The Authority's Board approved $5.98 million funding for projects ranging from large-scale physical restoration to educational initiatives that help connect people with the awa.
Restoration funding will support work in the lower Waikato, upper Waipā, Maungakawa, Mangaōkewa, Pokaiwhenua, Maungatautari, Waiotapu, Pueto stream and Tahunaatara areas of the wider Waikato River catchment. This includes fencing, planting, land retirement and other activities to be carried out by agencies, landowners, iwi, community and catchment groups.
Interest was strong again this year, with 44 applications seeking more than $11 million, said Waikato River Authority Crown Co-chair Stu Kneebone.
"It was heartening to see such a diverse range of projects. We were also pleased to see the return of some applicants who were declined last year and came back with stronger, more focused proposals and greater support behind them, which we were able to fund this year."
Other notable projects include a new rangatahi education programme, Te Au Whakamua; locating paru and re-establishing pā harakeke for traditional cultural use; and removing car wrecks from a culturally significant area of the Waikato River near Taupiri maunga.
Waikato River Authority Iwi Co-chair Danny Loughlin welcomed the growth in education and capacity-building initiatives.
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“One of our key strategies is growing taniwha, or river guardians, along the length and breadth of our awa. With regulatory change now pushed out, it’s more important than ever that we maintain the momentum already built in our communities, so it’s great to see rangatahi education and capacity-building programmes coming through.”
The largest grants this year went to Waikato Regional Council, Pūniu River Care, Wai Ora Rivercare and Raukawa Charitable Trust.
A full list of funded projects is available on the Waikato River Authority website: [link to be added)
Since 2011, the fund has allocated more than $90 million to 542 projects across the catchment.
About the Waikato River Authority
The Waikato River Authority is a co-governance body of river iwi and Crown appointees, established through Treaty settlement legislation. It is custodian of Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato and funds projects to restore and protect the health and wellbeing of the Waikato and Waipā Rivers.
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