March 03, 2026

#regional: Climate Resilience Communities Fund Reopens to Strengthen Taitokerau

Matthew Tukaki Posted On March 3, 2026

The Northland Regional Council has reopened applications for its Climate Resilience Communities Fund, inviting community groups across Taitokerau to apply for support to strengthen local responses to climate change.

Now in its third year, the fund focuses on community-led initiatives designed to build resilience and increase local capacity to respond to increasingly severe weather events and long-term climate pressures.

Council Chair Pita Tipene says the initiative reflects a commitment to ensuring communities are better prepared for the growing risks posed by extreme weather.

Recent years have seen flooding, coastal erosion and storm events disrupt transport links, damage homes and infrastructure, and threaten access to food, water and energy supplies. The fund aims to equip communities with the tools and resources to anticipate these impacts and plan effectively.

Since its launch, the Climate Resilience Communities Fund has supported 45 projects across five priority areas: Kai Resilience, Water Resilience, Nature-based Resilience, Energy Resilience, and Planning for Resilience.

Of those projects, 22 were delivered in the Far North, 10 in Whangārei District, five in Kaipara and eight across the wider region.

The regional council has invested $1.2 million over the previous two funding rounds, supporting initiatives that strengthen food security, restore ecosystems and enhance local preparedness.

Successful projects include a Ngāwhā-based food security initiative reconnecting whānau with traditional Māori potato growing while exploring development of a peruperu industry in Taitokerau. In Mangawhai, the StormZone exhibition and travelling roadshow raised awareness about extreme weather events and their impacts. In Bream Bay, dune restoration and weed control efforts have strengthened natural coastal protection.

The fund prioritises vulnerable communities and projects that deliver measurable, long-term benefits for the wider region.

Council leadership emphasises that local residents are best placed to understand the unique risks and opportunities in their own areas. By providing grants between $5,000 and $40,000 plus GST, the council aims to empower legal community entities to turn climate adaptation plans into action.

Eligible projects must be implemented within Taitokerau and demonstrate outcomes such as increased public awareness, stronger participation in climate action, enhanced local capability and improved community networks.

With climate projections indicating more frequent and intense weather events, resilience planning is becoming central to regional strategy. Coastal communities face heightened risks from storm surges and erosion, while rural areas grapple with drought and flood cycles that threaten agricultural production.

The Climate Resilience Communities Fund is positioned as a proactive response – supporting grassroots initiatives that combine mātauranga Māori, environmental restoration and practical infrastructure planning.

Applications open on Monday 2 March and close on Monday 27 April 2026. Further information is available through the Northland Regional Council’s website.

As Taitokerau continues to navigate climate challenges, the fund represents a targeted investment in local knowledge, collective action and long-term sustainability.

Applicants can apply for grants of between $5000 and $40,000 plus GST.
Applications must be for a project implemented in Taitokerau and be from a legal community entity.
Applications open on Monday 02 March and close on Monday 27 April 2026.
For more information, visit https://www.nrc.govt.nz/climateresiliencefunding/