Do you have a Māori language revitalisation project that needs investment?
Each year Te Mātāwai invite kāinga, hapori and iwi from around Aotearoa to revitalise te reo Māori through our investment programme.
We are committed to the revitalisation of te reo Māori and we are invested in our relationship with you as we work together to achieve Kia ūkaipō anō te Reo.
Registrations are Now Open! Click HERE to start the registration process(external link)
Investment plans and priorities are set by the eight Kāhui and contribute towards achieving our five outcome areas:
- Whānau wellbeing / oranga o te whānau: more whānau feeling confident in navigating their own Māori language journey
- Immersion domains / rumaki: whānau have increased access to bilingual and immersion domains throughout Aotearoa
- Intergenerational transmission / reo tuku iho: more whānau have increased their daily use of Māori language across generations
- Reo movements / kōkiritanga reo: increased number of whānau connected to movements where Māori language and identity is promoted and enhanced
- Iwi identity / tuakiri: whānau have an improved sense of iwi identity when Māori language is visible and valued at a local and national level
Pae Motuhake, representing iwi and Māori interests, develop the investment plan and key priorities for each Kāhui and make recommendations to the Board of Te Mātāwai for approval.
Read the investment plan for your Kāhui before you submit your application.
Find the list of initiatives we have supported here [PDF, 689 KB].
For more information on our priorities, refer to our Statement of Intent 2021–2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does Investment mean? Is it the same as funding?
Investment is the same as Funding. We use the word investment because we are investing in the revitalisation of the language.
2. Can I register as an individual or do I need to be an organisation?
You can register as an individual, as a business, as an organisation, as a whānau, or any trusts (charitable, land, marae, iwi, whānau).
3. Do I need to be GST registered?
All requests more than $60,000 will require GST registration.
Contact the IRD(external link) for full details about GST.
4. Why do I have to register?
Registration is the first step in accessing our investment It is an important step in enabling us to verify all of your contact details.
5. What details are needed to register?
Individual: Legal name, home address, phone number, email address, GST status, proof of identity, iwi affiliation, two written references.
Organisation: Organisation name, business address, phone number, email address, GST status, organisation structure (Limited Liability Company, Trust or Incorporated Society, Partnership, Other), primary contact person details, iwi affiliation, two written references.
6. What do I do if I miss the deadline for registrations?
Sorry, unfortunately if you miss the registration deadline of 31 January 2023, you will not be able to submit an application for the 2023 Investment Round.
The registration process for the following year will open on 1 December 2023.
7. How much money can I apply for?
There is no limitation on the amount of money you can apply for. Please keep in mind that each Kāhui have their own Investment threshold. Please ensure you familiarise yourself with the respective Kāhui Investment Plan for your rohe:
Te Tai Tokerau
Tainui
Mātaatua
Te Arawa
Te Tai Rāwhiti
Te Tai Hau-ā-uru
Te Waipounamu
Te Reo Tukutuku
8. Te Mātāuru, Te Mātāpuna, Kaitono, Pae Motuhake, Kāhui, Poari Matua, Haumitanga
I have seen these terms on your website - but what do they mean?
Te Mātāuru – The Investments Team
Te Mātāpuna – The online portal where your registration and application will be submitted
Kaitono – Applicants who apply for investment
Kāhui – The 7 regional clusters that contain iwi listed in the Māori Language Act 2016, and 1 national cluster that include the four sectors which are Education, Community, Māori Media and Urban-Māori.
Pae Motuhake – The Regional Boards of each Kāhui
Poari Mātua – The Te Mātāwai Board
Haumitanga – Investment
9. Does my application need to be in te reo Maōri? Will I be penalised if it is not in the reo?
Applications to Te Arawa must be in te reo Māori. Applications not received in te reo Māori will not be considered.
Applications to Mātaatua must be in te reo Māori if applying for $60,000 or more. Anything below $60,000 can be submitted in te reo Māori or English.
All other applications can be submitted in te reo Māori and/or English.
10. Why does the process take so long?
Our investment process is an honest and fair process that enables equal opportunity for all kāinga, hapori and iwi to apply. There are five steps to the process and each step has been allocated a reasonable time to allow Te Mātāwai staff, Pae Motuhake and Board members to do due diligence for all applicants.
The steps are outlined below:
Step 1 | Registrations | 1 December 2022 - 31 January 2023 |
Step 2 | Applications | 1 January 2023 - 28 February 2023 |
Step 3 | Assessments | 1 March 2023 - 30 April 2023 |
Step 4 | Approvals | May 2023 |
Step 5 | Notifications | May - June 2023 |
Step 6 | Project Begins | 1 July 2023 |
10. There used to be a lot of different times we could apply – has this changed?
In the past we had multiple funding rounds. There is now a single integrated investment round. All applications need to be submitted by 28 February 2023.
11. Where can I get more information?
Visit our website tematawai.maori.nz/investment(external link)
Watch our podcast episodes
- Episode 002 Te Mātāuru Part 1(external link) Investment Programme
- Episode 006 Te Mātāuru Part 2(external link) Investment Round
Follow us on Social Media - Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok
12. Who can I contact if I have more questions or need help with my registration or application?
You can contact Te Mātāuru, our Investment Team, at support@tematawai.maori.nz
- New Zealand citizens who are living in New Zealand
- New Zealand-based organisations
Individuals and organisations should affiliate to:
- iwi and hapū listed within Kāhui, and/or
- a sector cluster: community, media, education or urban Māori.
Refer to your Kāhui for any additional application criteria.
For all Kāhui:
Registrations Open | 1 December 2022 - 31 January 2023 |
Applications Open | 1 January 2023 - 28 February 2023 |
Processing and Assessment of Applications |
March - May 2023 |
Applicants notified | 30 May 2023 |
Contracts are signed | June 2023 |
All projects commence | 1 July 2023 |
You must register to become a registered provider before submitting an application for investment.
For further inquiries, email support@tematawai.maori.nz
- Register to access Te Mātāpuna(external link), our application portal, and to receive important notifications before the round opens.
- Login to the portal(external link) to complete your application form.
Pae Motuhake will assess each application using the criteria outlined in each Kāhui Investment Plan and make recommendations to Te Mātāwai Board, which makes the final decision on which applications will receive investment.
Final decisions are based on available investments and applications meeting the necessary criteria.
All kaitono will be notified of the outcome of applications via Te Mātāpuna.
Successful applicants will receive a letter of offer and an agreement from a Te Mātāwai Investment Facilitator.
The investment agreement sets out the purpose of the investment along with any key dates, activities and milestones to be met.
For more information, email support@tematawai.maori.nz