Seventeen projects across Te Tai Tokerau have been awarded a total of $200,000 through the Te Tai Tokerau Impact Fund in the first round of a new funding initiative. The fund is administered by Northland Inc and NorthChamber, with financial support from Transpower and Omexom.
Cross-Sector Investment for Post-Outage Recovery
Grants of up to $20,000 have been awarded to support efforts helping Te Tai Tokerau communities and businesses recover from the 2023 transmission tower failure. Submissions spanned sectors including education, events, business development, and local community initiatives.
Backing Innovation and Enterprise Development
The Te Tai Tokerau Impact Fund is a targeted investment programme focused on helping start-ups and established ventures grow, while also promoting innovation and resilience in the Northland economy.
The funding ranges from $5,000 to $20,000 per project, and applicants are assessed on the basis of project readiness, regional benefit, and long-term impact. One of the key objectives of the fund is to back Māori-led innovation and enterprise.
Forty-seven percent of the successful applications identified as Māori-led in the first round, which demonstrates the depth of leadership and entrepreneurship within the region’s Māori business community.
Regional Stakeholders Highlight Value of Investment
Leah McKerrow, CEO of NorthChamber, highlighted the calibre and diversity of the funded projects. “The selection panel was pleased to allocate funding to such a diverse range of projects. It’s inspiring to see the commitment and creativity of our local businesses and community groups. A key criteria we applied was the impact that these initiatives would have on the wider community. We’re confident these initiatives will make a meaningful impact across Northland.”
Vaughan Cooper, Head of Investment and Infrastructure at Northland Inc, also noted the strong interest in the fund as a positive sign for the region’s economic future. “The response to this fund highlights the depth of innovation and enterprise in Te Tai Tokerau. It’s particularly encouraging to see such a high proportion of Māori-led projects coming through – a testament to the strength and leadership within our Māori business community. Supporting these initiatives contributes to wider regional resilience and long-term economic growth.”
Support from Government and Industry Leaders
The fund was launched as part of a wider recovery response following last year’s transmission tower collapse. Northland MP Grant McCallum, who championed investment in the region post-disruption, said, “Following the electricity disruption caused by the transmission tower fall, I pushed for tangible support for Northland communities. It’s encouraging to see 17 diverse initiatives supported across the region — a clear reflection of the hard work and ambition driving Te Tai Tokerau forward.”
Raewyn Moss, Executive General Manager Customer & External Affairs at Transpower, sat on the panel that selected the recipients. “There were many excellent submissions, and it was great to see the opportunities this fund can deliver to help Northland grow more resilient. Our next round of funding is now open for applications.”
Applications for the second round of the Te Tai Tokerau Impact Fund are now open and will close on Friday, 6 June. Eligible applicants include businesses, business associations, and community groups working on projects that align with the fund’s goals of regional impact, innovation, resilience, and project readiness.
The fund is set to continue its role in driving regional development through grassroots enterprise and collaboration, with the early success of the first round.