Innovative Maori, Pasifika funds now open
9 Nov 2020
The Dunedin City Council and Otago Community Trust have established two ‘‘innovative’’ new funds that will benefit Maori and Pasifika communities in Ōtepoti/Dunedin post-Covid.
The Hapori Maori Innovation and Development Fund and the Pasifika Communities Innovation and Development Fund have been officially launched to meet a greater need faced this year.
Dunedin City Council community development and events manager Joy Gunn said the initiative was part of the council’s $950,000 Covid-19 fund to support social wellbeing.
‘‘The funds came out of the fact that in working with the community we could see Maori and Pasifika were impacted and would potentially be impacted by higher rates of unemployment.
The Otago Community Trust will match the $60,000 made available for the Hapori fund, meaning $120,000 would be distributed.
The Pasifika fund would distribute $60,000, $30,000 from council and the other half from the Otago Community Trust.
Pāsifika Communities Fund
The purpose of Pāsifika Communities Fund is to support new initiatives and projects within Ōtepoti/Dunedin that enhance social and economic well-being. Projects can address whole community needs, or provide opportunities for specific groups such as youth, women or elders.
Learn more about this Fund HERE
Hapori Māori Innovation and Development Fund
The purpose of the Ōtepoti COVID-19 Innovation and Development Fund for hapori Māori is to support new initiatives and projects within Ōtepoti/Dunedin that enhance social and economic wellbeing. Projects can address whole community needs or provide opportunities for specific groups such as rakatahi, wāhine or kaumātua.
Learn more about this Fund HERE
The new Innovation and Development funds were established to acknowledge the hardships and issues experienced by whānau Māori and Pāsifika communities as a result of COVID-19. Funding supports innovation and development projects and initiatives that contribute and support whānau need on the ground and in the communities who need it the most.
Applying to this fund does not prevent organisations from making a regular grant application to the Otago Community Trust or a grant application to the Dunedin City Council.