$9.2 million has been awarded to 20 community groups to boost conservation initiatives protecting our unique biodiversity across Aotearoa New Zealand.
For the 2026 funding round, criteria focused on benefits to threatened species and ecosystems, collaboration, and enabling iwi/hapū/whānau to act as rangatira and kaitiaki.
Projects are funded for up to three years and cover a range of endangered habitats and wildlife across New Zealand, including internationally significant wetlands, rare geothermal ecosystems, and nationally critical fauna and flora.
Funded projects are expected to deliver high-value conservation benefits and will leverage more than 12.3 million in contributions, such as volunteer time and co-funding from partners.
The 2026 DOCCF received 121 applications, requesting more than $69 million of funding in total.
|
Region |
Applicant |
Project Title |
Project Summary |
Funding awarded (ex GST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Northern North Island |
Pukenui Forest Trust |
Restoring Pukenui: Building on Existing Predator Control Gains to Benefit Pekapeka |
Predator control in Pukenui Forest and surrounding reserves in Whangārei to protect the nationally critical long-tailed bat/pekapeka, and other at-risk species. |
$227,120 |
|
Northern North Island |
Weed Action Native Habitat Restoration Trust |
Manaia Scenic Reserve - Taonga Species |
Weed control within the Manaia Scenic Reserve to protect the nationally critical Pseudowintera insperata/Northland horopito and restore the forest ecosystem. |
$265,885 |
|
Northern North Island |
Kiwi Coast |
Matuku-hūrepo Te Tai Tokerau |
Research and monitoring across Northland wetlands to assess the effectiveness of predator control in improving nesting success for nationally critical matuku-hūrepo/Australasian bittern and inform future management for matuku and other wetland species. |
$392,200 |
|
Hauraki-Waikato-Taranaki |
Te Kāhui o Taranaki |
Restoration of Critically Endangered Coastal Turf Ecosystems within the Taranaki Iwi Rohe |
Restoration of critically endangered coastal turf ecosystems within the Taranaki iwi rohe through mapping, monitoring, planting and engagement activities to improve the condition and resilience of the habitat. |
$432,840 |
|
Hauraki-Waikato-Taranaki |
Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust |
Continuing to Ensure the Maunga Sings |
Ongoing maintenance of the predator-proof fence and habitat restoration in Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, home to several threatened species including the nationally critical kākāpō. |
$606,585 |
|
Hauraki-Waikato-Taranaki |
East Taranaki Environment Trust |
North-East Taranaki Kōkako Landscape Project |
Large-scale predator control and monitoring to deliver wide conservation benefits across an extensive area, including specific support for kōkako. |
$603,760 |
|
Central North Island |
Te Mana o Tauhara |
Tauhara Ngāwhā Geothermal Restoration Project |
Restoration of critically endangered geothermal ecosystems in the Tauhara Ngāwhā geothermal area, Taupō, through weed control, planting and pest management. |
$315,875 |
|
Lower North Island |
Chatham Islands Farmers Association |
Rēkohu (Chatham Island) and Rangihau (Pitt Island) Feral Pig Project Phase 1 |
First phase of feral pig control on Rēkohu/Chatham Island and Rangihau/Pitt Island to reduce the impact these animals have on threatened species and critically endangered coastal turf ecosystems. |
$543,240 |
|
Lower North Island |
Chatham Islands Landscape Restoration Trust |
Pitt Island – Feral Cat Knock Down (Predator Free Chathams) |
Feral cat control on Pitt Island to improve outcomes for the many endangered species present, including 14 threatened birds, and several critical ecosystems. |
$1,169,900 |
|
Lower North Island |
Ngā Manu Nature Reserve |
Saving endangered species |
Captive breeding and management of endangered species to help safeguard population viability and enable future reintroduction into the wild. |
$197,685 |
|
Lower North Island |
Wildlife Foxton Trust |
Accelerating the Papangaio Te Wharangi Manawatū Estuary Management Plan 2025-2035 Implementation |
Pest control, weed control, and habitat restoration to support critically endangered ecosystems at an internationally significant Ramsar site. |
$331,350 |
|
Northern South Island |
Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau Trust |
Te Mauri o Te Pokohiwi-o-Kupe |
Pest control and habitat restoration of part of a nationally significant and rare coastal stonefield ecosystem at Te Pokohiwi/Boulder Bank, Blenheim. |
$325,000 |
|
Northern South Island |
Te Tau Ihu Environmental Trust |
Pest Free Onetahua |
Habitat restoration at an internationally significant Ramsar site on Onetahua/Farewell Spit where several threatened ecosystems and species are present. |
$791,250 |
|
Eastern South Island |
Arthur's Pass Wildlife Trust |
Arthur's Pass Predator Free |
Predator control across an alpine ecosystem to support kea and the great spotted kiwi/roroa, along with many other species present in the area. |
$160,000 |
|
Eastern South Island |
Kea Conservation Trust |
Keeping it local - Amplifying Community Kea Conservation Initiatives |
Education, behaviour change, and local initiatives such as lead removal, to reduce threats to kea from human-wildlife interaction. |
$150,000 |
|
Eastern South Island |
Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust |
Feral Ungulate Free Banks Peninsula - Protecting Banks Peninsula Fork Fern and Other Taonga |
Control of ungulates (deer, pigs, goats) across Banks Peninsula to protect threatened plant species, including the nationally endangered Tmesipteris horomaka/Banks Peninsula fork fern. |
$642,445 |
|
Eastern South Island |
Te Taumutu Rūnanga |
Whakaora Te Muriwai o Whata (the Restoration of Muriwai o Whata/Coopers Lagoon) |
Pest mammal control, integrated monitoring, and long-term ecological and cultural restoration initiatives to protect an endangered lagoon ecosystem and several threatened wetland bird species. |
$521,730 |
|
Southern South Island |
Mana Tāhuna Charitable Trust |
Vision Wai Whakaata - Lake Hayes Tuarua |
Catchment-scale restoration programme in the Lake Hayes catchment toimprove water quality and habitat connectivity for vulnerable lake margin ecosystems and species. |
$418,535 |
|
Southern South Island |
The Wildlife Hospital Trust |
Hoiho/Yellow-eyed Penguin Veterinary Care @ The Wildlife Hospital |
Critical hospital care and support for a range of injured and sick threatened bird species, including the nationally endangered hoiho/yellow eyed penguin. |
$570,000 |
|
Southern South Island |
The Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance Limited (OPERA) |
Hoiho Conservation Programmea |
Rehabilitation support for the nationally endangered hoiho/yellow eyed penguin when birds are sick, injured or suffering from malnutrition, before release back into the wild. |
$534,600 |
|
TOTAL |
$9,200,000 |
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