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Environmental Enhancement Fund

What is the Environmental Enhancement Fund (EEF)?

This fund supports local, grass-roots projects that have a vision to improve or protect the natural or historical features of the rohe (region). 

It exists to enable the mahi (work) of volunteer groups within the community that are passionate about making change now for the future, who want to bring their community or communities together, and who recognise their role in making a difference in their own ‘backyard’.  

The He Matapuna Akoranga a Hawea Vercoe - Hawea Vercoe Memorial Fund grants are also funded through the EEF to help Kura Kaupapa Māori, Kohanga Reo and bi-lingual schools in the region with environmental projects.

What can the funding be used for?

  • Projects that provide broad environmental gains and encourage community access to the project site.
  • Plants and other vegetation that’s best suited to the project site.
  • Materials and equipment, such as gloves, raking tools, shovels, wheelbarrows etc.
  • Infrastructure that can support good environmental outcomes (as part of the overall project). Examples include rainwater and grey tanks, shade houses and fencing, rails and steps, tracks and boardwalks.
  • Up to 20% of your funding can be used for project management / administration support.
  • Training for project team members to support the project’s success, for example Growsafe Certification.
  • Support from skilled workers / contractors (subject to approval).

How much can we fund?

You can apply for up to $25,000 per financial year (July 1 to June 30) for your project.

Are you eligible? Check you meet the following criteria:

  • Your project group and location are in the Bay of Plenty.
  • Your project site has free public access.
  • You are a community based group (not a private individual, commercial entity, Government agency or district / city council).
  • You’re committed to the long-term success of the project, including maintaining the project, and will do regular monitoring and reporting to let us know how it’s going.  
  • Your project is not receiving funding from any other Bay of Plenty Regional Council programmes for the same work (however, aspects of the project not covered under other programme funding criteria may be eligible to apply to the EEF). 

Need more detail? Check out the EEF Operational Manual.

What’s the process?

  • Download and complete the Application Form and email this to eefund@boprc.govt.nz. If you have any queries around your project and completing the form, please contact our Environmental Enhancement Fund Coordinator.   
  • Stage one is an initial screening by our Environmental Enhancement Fund Coordinator to check off the basic eligibility criteria and ensure the application is complete (outlined above). 
  • Stage two is an assessment of the project with one of our in-house subject matter experts (depending on the nature of your project). This assessment will look at the project’s overall impact and viability, as well as its ability to encourage community participation. Additional considerations will be any risks and opportunities.
  • Once both stages have been completed, the applicant will be notified of the outcome.

Maketu Wetlands

 $17,900

To upgrade and widen new and existing tracks at the Kaituna stop bank. Undertaking pest plan control and establishing native vegetation.

Kaharoa School

 $18,870

To enhance the natural environment surrounding the Kaharoa School to create ecological connectivity, learning and wellbeing outcomes for the community

Nukuhou North School

 $2,068.24

To host planting days at Nukuhou North School to promote and enhance the local environment by establishing garden beds, a greenhouse and a small nursery prioritising iconic native plant species

Halo Whakatane

 $24,500

To set up trapping lines and to plant natives in prepared areas of the Ōhope Spit.

Preston park

 $10,320

To clear out pest plants and weeds and then plant a number of natives in a hectare of Preston Park

Precious Family Reserve

 $20,200

To enhance the use-ability of the pond areas at Precious Family Reserve by creating a copse of natives to provide food and shelter for resident and migratory birds

Waihi Beach Environment Society

 $10,605

To work with the community establishing a pest trap library in the Waihī Beach area

Waiotahe Water Care

 $25,000

Restore the Waiōtahe catchment to promote and enable the establishment of a network of indigenous vegetation

Friends of the Blade

 $15,800

To establish a 300 Ha Pest Free Zone centred on the Ngamuwahine and Ngamarama Tracks in the Kaimai Mamaku Forrest Park

Kaitiaki o Taiao

 $18,100

To restore a wetland, plant natives and remove noxious weeds, and to install a water tank to expand the community garden in Okere Falls

Te Kura o Te Paora

 $16,502

To remove willow trees and replant with natives, identify and remove pest plants and implement a rodent eradication plan at Te Kura o Te Paroa

 

Sanatorium Restoration

 $3,046

To help fund the Pukeroa Oruawhata Eco Warrior Learning Group as part of the Sanatorium Reserve Ecological Restoration Project

Envirohub

 $25,000

To help the Bay of Plenty become predator free, focusing on using a pest trap library in urban areas

Whakarewarewa Pest Free Trust

 $23,700

To increase the biodiversity of the Whakarewarewa Forrest by trapping pests, planting natives and building Kaka nest boxes

Lakeview Golf and Country Club

 $9,400

To plant natives to increase the number of native birds and invertebrate population in the Lakeview Gold and Country Club in Rotorua

Preston park

$23,500.00

For Revegetation and pest control and to provide an educational component

Te Ranga School Bush Classroom

$12,493.67

To create a bush classroom, that promotes sustainability and biodiversity.
This includes weeding, planting, pest control and monitoring

HALO Whakatāne

$23,360.72

To reduce pests and control weeds and to plant dunes with natives

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuara

$12,656.50

To improve the biodiversity, water quality and whakapapa connection between Ngati Kea Ngati Tuara iwi and their whenua

Waitao Kaiate Landcare Group

$18,324.00

To reduce animal pests, so that the forest is healthy and can support populations of native s birds.

Kawerau Trails Trust

$24,240.00

To remove pest species and to plant native species to create an ecological corridor and provide public access alongside the Tarawera River

Waihi Beach Environment Society Inc.

$1,759.80

To reduce the number of rodents and stoats to encourage bird life

Ohiwa Reserves Care Group

$9,866.00

To encourage more wildlife to live and breed in the area while also enhancing biodiversity and the overall visual appeal to visitors

Waihī Beach School

$15,395.63

To restore forest vegetation whilst developing wetland planting in order to improve water quality

Whakatane Kiwi Trust

$10,701.00

To see kiwi and other native species thrive in the Whakatāne District by trapping and monitoring pests

Manawahe Kokako Trust

$24,923.80

To monitor kokako nesting and breeding health in the Manawahe area

Tauranga Sunrise Rotary

 $18,401.00

To install drain socks to highlight the quantity of waste entering our coastal waters. With an aim to raise awareness and promote sustainable management

Te Kohanga Reo o Patutataahi

$22,500.00

To eradicate and control pest weeds at Te Kohanga Reo o Patutataahi

Te Takinga Marae

$25,000.00

To plant natives and maara kai and for the erection of education signposts. This is alongside a large boardwalk project along the Ohau Channel River

Waihī Beach Broadland Block

$25,000.00

To remove exotic weeds as part of a revegetation plan

Sullivan Lake Care Group

$21,738.95

To improve the water quality of the lake by removing dead trees and invasive flora and planting additional natives

Te Whanau a Nuku $2,086.00 Pest plant removal between the beach and road on Ōmaio Marae
Preston Park (Christian Education Trust) $22,300.00 Continued enhancement of Preston Park conservation area, including the planting of native trees and wetland planting
Tarawera Care Group $3,241.79 Planting wetland plants and clearing of aquatic pest weeds to improve the numbers of native fish within the lower reaches of the Tarawera River
Ngā Maunga Kaitiaki Trust Board $24,928.00 To assist the restoration of the maunga through development of an effective and efficient predator control program
Te Huauri o Te Kawa $15,935.00 Infrastructure upgrade at the Kaituna stop bank to enhance the functionality, safety and longevity of Te Huauri o Te Kawa
Edgecumbe Lions Club $4,217.69 To ensure ongoing and improved public access to Onepū Wetlands for the ongoing benefit of the wider community
PiPS Regenerate Mauao $16,000.00 To regenerate Mauao/Mount Maunganui by creating a ‘Whanau Ngāhere – Family Forest’ where members of our community plant their ‘family tree’
Waikuta Marae $10,130.72 Restoring the riparian margin of the Waikuta Stream
Hekerangi Urupa TeTeko $1,581.50 Clearing and controlling pest weeds allowing for good grass growth in Te Teko
Manawahe  Eco Trust $25,000.00 Developing a predator free ecological corridor linking the Rotorua lakes to the sea, expanding existing pest control and replanting with native plants
Allandale School $9,998.43 To further increase biodiversity in Allandale school grounds, to improve the children’s and community’s connection with te taiao

Ngāti Hangarau $18,254.18 Removal of pest weeds/animals at foreshore between Hangarau Marae and Tauranga Harbour
Whakamarama Community Inc $19,021 Community pest trapping project
Ōmokoroa Community Garden $8,050 Community Garden project

Otamakaukau Kaitiaki Trust

$23,900 Awatapu Lagoon wetland planting
Tauranga Bridge Marina $10,167.15 Clean up of Tauranga Seabin through use of Seabin
Tahuwhakatiki Marae $22,334.15  Removal of pest weeds, native planting
Lake Rotomā Lake Rotoehu Community Association $5,750 Pest control trapping
Te Puke High School $14,549.47 Energy based project including solar
Preston Park – Christian Education Trust $21,298 Removal of pest weeds, native planting
Ngā Maunga Kaitiaki Trust Board $28733.90 Pest control project on Putauaki
Tauranga Girls College Kaitiakitanga Committee  $2,4476.60 Energy based project including solar
Waihī Beach Environmental Society  $2,287.35 Pest control project at Orokawa Scenic Reserve
Bay Conservation Alliance Oteora $7,366.90 Pest control project