The purpose of the Māori Development Fund (the Fund) is to support Māori economic growth initiatives as part of the Government’s Māori economic growth plan Going for Growth with Māori | Tōnui Māori.  The Fund primarily provides co-investment in Māori economic development initiatives that improve the productivity of iwi and Māori assets, including infrastructure development, and increase Māori export revenues through growth and market expansion. 

The Fund is administered by Te Puni Kōkiri and makes grants (also known as investments) to eligible kaitono, subject to specific criteria and funding availability. These grants help the Government support Iwi and Māori businesses and organisations to achieve better outcomes.

Budget 2026 allocated $38.21m per annum to the Fund from 1 July 2026.

The Fund’s FY2026/2027 investment priorities are:

• Investment Priority 1: Improved productivity of Iwi and Māori assets, and co-investment in infrastructure; and
• Investment Priority 2: Increased Māori export revenues.

Funding is available for economic growth initiatives, including those that:

• enable asset owners to undertake large-scale projects that increase the utilisation, productivity, diversity, and value of their assets where access to capital is limited; and
• support Iwi and Māori participation in significant infrastructure projects that contribute to regional economic growth (including energy, water, and related infrastructure). This includes:
• • supporting projects to become investment-ready and access capital for delivery, and
  • de-risking emerging opportunities through informed decision-making.

Funding is also available for export growth initiatives, including those that support new or existing Māori exporters:

• who are able to diversify or scale to double their export revenue; and
• to grow their capability and scale to increase their export revenue by obtaining knowledge and expertise for exporting.

The Fund also supports Māori community resilience initiatives that build capability to deliver economic, social and cultural outcomes for local Māori communities. There will be a particular focus on proposals that deliver initiatives of high national or regional significance that preserve, promote, and advance Te Ao Māori.

Funding proposals must meet several eligibility and investment criteria.  

What is the Māori Development Fund aiming to achieve?

The Māori Development Fund (the Fund) supports the Government’s Going for Growth with Māori | Tōnui Māori, by focusing on infrastructure investment, unlocking the growth potential of Māori assets, and accelerating exports as detailed in the Māori Development Fund Investment Plan.

Who can apply for funding from the Māori Development Fund?

A wide range of entities can submit proposals, provided they are based in New Zealand, and the proposal is submitted by a single legal entity, such as a:

• registered incorporated society
• limited liability company
• trust incorporated under the Charitable Trust Act 1957 and registered with the Companies Office
• statutory entity, including a Māori Trust Board (Māori Trust Boards Act 1955) or Māori Association (Māori Community Development Act 1962)
• trusts and incorporations set up under Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993
• other entities with a demonstrated ability to receive and administer Government funds.

Note: Groups can partner with a legal entity, or a legal entity can act as an umbrella organisation for another entity or group of entities, with the documented consent of those groups.

What kinds of projects can be funded?

The Māori Development Fund Investment Plan sets out the investment priorities for the coming year. The Fund can be used to support initiatives and activities that contribute directly to these priorities (please also read the Fund’s eligibility and investment criteria).

Examples of what may be funded include:

• specialist/technical advice, including feasibility studies and business cases that help kaitono become investment-ready. This could, for example, make access to capital to implement a significant, at-scale project easier, by de-risking the project;
• resources that lift the productivity, diversity and value of Iwi and Māori assets, and/or accelerate Māori export revenue
• initiatives that strengthen the capability and resilience of Māori communities to achieve economic, social and cultural outcomes, and preserve, promote and advance Te Ao Māori, where identified as a regional priority.

We cannot fund:

• activities that will mostly be undertaken outside of New Zealand (there may be some very limited exceptions if the activities are essential for the delivery of a specific initiative)
• international travel and accommodation
• initiatives with options for alternative finance or funding from other sources, and where investment from the Māori Development Fund would not significantly accelerate change
• business-as-usual activities for the kaitono, such as operational costs
• legal advocacy, arbitration/mediation, or litigation costs, including court costs. Legal advice of other kinds may be able to be funded
• purchase of vehicles, buildings, land, businesses, or shares
• retrospective events and activities
• alcohol
• medical bills
• payment of existing debts
• events that have a political component or purpose.

What are the criteria against which funding proposals are assessed?

Proposals will be assessed against the eligibility and investment criteria.  To be prioritised for investment, your proposal will need to describe how it meets each of these criteria.

Māori Development Fund Eligibility Criteria

For a funding proposal to be eligible for investment, it must meet all the eligibility criteria set out below. Funding proposals that do not meet these criteria will be declined on eligibility grounds.

To be eligible for investment, proposals must:

a. Be made by a single legal entity based in New Zealand, including the following:	registered incorporated society limited liability company trust incorporated under the Charitable Trust Act 1957 and registered with the Companies Office statutory entity, including a Māori Trust Board (Māori Trust Boards Act 1955) or Māori Association (Māori Community Development Act 1962), Māori Incorporation trusts and Incorporations set up under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 other entities with a demonstrated ability to receive and administer Government funds. Note: Groups can partner with a legal entity, or a legal entity can act as an umbrella organisation for another entity or group of entities, with the documented consent of those groups.
b. Meet due diligence requirements for investment, including:	entity can meet their financial obligations if co-funding is required from entities other than the applicant, written confirmation of their commitment to contribute the stated amount must be provided with the proposal any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest are declared, able to reasonably be managed, and a management plan is in place if a decision-making member of the organisation has been declared bankrupt or convicted of offences that could impact the initiative or reasonably be seen to bring it, or Te Puni Kōkiri, into disrepute, a management plan sufficiently addressing the risk must be provided identifies potential risks and has mitigations in place to manage these governance approval is evidenced. For proposals involving joint governance or an umbrella organisation, written confirmation of governance or ownership arrangements must include agreement from all parties, and provisions for conflict resolution and exit providing a Child and Vulnerable Adults Protection Policy if the proposal includes working with children (under 18 years) or vulnerable adults a completed proposal that is signed and endorsed by an authorised signatory.
c. Intend to deliver the Investment Outcomes of at least one of the two Investment Priorities in the Māori Development Fund Investment Plan, or an initiative building capability to deliver economic, social and cultural outcomes for local Māori communities.

Proposals will not be eligible for investment if they are for:

activities that will mostly be undertaken outside of New Zealand (some very limited exceptions may be possible if the activities are essential for the delivery of a specific initiative) international travel and accommodation initiatives with options for alternative finance or funding from other sources and investment from the Māori Development Fund would not significantly accelerate change business-as-usual activities for the kaitono such as operational costs legal advocacy, arbitration/mediation, or litigation costs, including court costs (legal advice of other kinds may be able to be funded) purchase of vehicles, buildings, land, businesses, or shares retrospective events and activities alcohol medical bills payment of existing debts events that have a political component or purpose.

Māori Development Fund Investment Criteria

Eligible proposals will be prioritised for investment if they meet the following investment criteria:

1. Provide data and evidence to demonstrate the achievement of investment outcomes.	Te Puni Kōkiri is required to report on the outcomes delivered by the Māori Development Fund. To enable this, proposals must clearly describe the change achieved as a result of the investment. Kaitono agree to provide Te Puni Kōkiri with relevant data and evidence to demonstrate that the investment outcomes have been achieved.
2. Provide credible evidence to substantiate the expected return on investment.	Kaitono must provide credible data and analysis that demonstrates how the expected return on investment will be achieved.
3. Demonstrate a robust, specific and credible plan to secure any further investment that the initiative may need for implementation.	The Māori Development Fund is not intended to provide ongoing funding for programmes and services. Proposals should clearly identify how their initiative will be implemented (including how investment for implementation will be funded), how the initiative will remain financially viable once Te Puni Kōkiri funding ceases, and the plan to achieve self-sustainability. Applications for, or intentions to seek, further Government funding will not be considered sufficient unless exceptional circumstances demonstrate that this approach is credible.
4. Avoid duplication of Government investment and support.	Te Puni Kōkiri seeks to make a distinct contribution to Māori wellbeing and development. Kaitono are expected to demonstrate they have explored whether other agencies may be the more appropriate funding or co-funding partners, to ensure that Te Puni Kōkiri funding is not used for activities typically supported by other agencies. Where Te Puni Kōkiri co-funds a proposal with another Government agency, the activities it supports must be clearly distinct from those funded by the other agency and capable of being independently attributed. If a kaitono submits multiple proposals, including across multiple Te Puni Kōkiri offices, these will be consolidated wherever possible into a single proposal to avoid duplication.
5. Maintain a balanced portfolio of investment across investment priorities, entities, and regional distribution.	Investments are expected to be distributed in a balanced way across investment priorities, regions and entities. The overall balance of the investment portfolio may be considered when assessing proposals, including proposals seeking significant funding, repeat funding or funding activities already supported through other investments.
6. Demonstrate that costs are reasonable and deliver value for money, with benefits proportionate to the investment scale and shared beyond a single entity.	Proposals must provide sufficient detail on costs to enable analysis of the relative expenditure. Where costs are considered comparatively high, justification may be requested, and will be considered as part of investment decision making. Proposals are required to demonstrate that benefits are proportionate to the scale of investment and more widely shared. They must be shared beyond a single entity.
7. Show a clear need for funding by demonstrating that kaitono cannot self-fund or secure other funding, and that without Māori Development Fund support the initiative would not proceed or would be significantly reduced or delayed.	Kaitono must provide clear evidence that available organisational resources and alternative funding sources are insufficient, and that without Māori Development Fund support the initiative would not proceed or would be materially reduced, delayed, or delivered at a lesser scale, scope, or pace. A decision to prioritise available funds for other activities or investments will not, on its own, be sufficient evidence of funding need.

Frequently asked questions

When can I submit a proposal?

The Māori Development Fund does not have funding rounds. You can submit a funding proposal at any time, but please contact the nearest Te Puni Kōkiri regional office first, to check funding availability and to discuss the eligibility and investment criteria.

How do I submit a proposal?

Please contact your nearest Te Puni Kōkiri regional office to discuss your proposal. Our kaimahi will explain how to proceed. You will be asked to complete a proposal template. Please feel free to ask for assistance if anything is unclear or if you would like to talk through your approach. You can email (or post) your funding proposal to the initiating regional office.

We strongly recommend you discuss your proposal with the nearest Te Puni Kōkiri regional office before completing the proposal template. We are aware of the time and effort kaitono put into proposals and our kaimahi are happy to work through the steps with you to make sure your proposal has every opportunity to be fully considered.

A discussion with our regional kaimahi will help you decide whether to proceed and will help you understand the criteria, process and information requirements. Submitting a proposal that does not:

• meet Māori Development Fund criteria; and/or
• use the template provided; and/or
• provide all the requested information

will mean that your proposal will not be able to proceed.

What information will I have to provide in my proposal?

The information you need to provide is outlined in the proposal form. Ensure that your proposal is complete and clearly demonstrates how it meets the eligibility and investment criteria, and aligns with the scope of the purpose of the Investment Plan.  Please contact your nearest Te Puni Kōkiri regional office if you have any queries.

How will my proposal be assessed?

Your proposal will be assessed against the eligibility and assessment criteria.

Who will decide whether my proposal is funded?

An Investment Committee, comprising senior Te Puni Kōkiri officials and two external members, reviews funding proposals and provides advice to the Deputy Secretary, Te Puni Kōkiri Regions, who approves proposals for funding. Delegated authority for some Community Resilience funding decisions sits with Te Puni Kōkiri Regional Directors. 

How long will it take to get a decision on my proposal?

In most cases, you will be advised whether your proposal has been successful within six to eight weeks following receipt of your completed proposal.

If you are not successful, you will be given the reason(s) for declining your proposal.

What happens if my proposal is approved?

Te Puni Kōkiri will be in touch to confirm the approval of your proposal and to explain next steps. An investment agreement will be sent to you for your agreement and signature, along with reporting templates so you are aware of the information required in our outcome reports.

What conditions apply to the funding if my proposal is approved?

The terms and conditions of the Māori Development Fund Investment Agreement are here.  The work programme that you submit in the proposal template will also form part of your Investment Agreement with Te Puni Kōkiri if your proposal is approved. 

Why do I need to provide information throughout the project to show what is being achieved?

Like other government agencies, Te Puni Kōkiri needs to explain to Ministers, the public, and central government agencies (such as the Treasury) how the funding has been used and what has been achieved.

Therefore, you need to provide information at various stages, including in your proposal, via progress reports and a wrap-up report at the end of the funded initiative. We will also contact you after the funded initiative has been completed, to measure the impact of the investment. You may also be asked to be part of the independent evaluation of the Māori Development Fund that will be commissioned in the future (for completion in 2029).

When will I have to report on my project?

This depends on the size, duration and nature of your project. The dates and frequency of reporting will be set out in your investment agreement, and a reporting template will be provided to help you meet reporting requirements. 

What information do I have to provide in the project reports?

The information you will be asked to provide is here. This will be set out in the report templates provided to you with the Investment Agreement that will be sent to you for your agreement and signature.

Who has been funded previously?

Te Puni Kōkiri publishes annual lists of funding recipients.

What other government funding is available that might support my initiative?

The Funding Explorer brings together government funding opportunities from across New Zealand in one place. Search on the Funding explorer - Business.govt.nz to discover funding options that may be suitable for your business.