He Kōrero Whakakapi: The Closure of the Mātauranga Kura Taiao Fund

After 24 years of supporting the revitalisation of mātauranga Māori and the protection of Aotearoa’s indigenous biodiversity, the Mātauranga Kura Taiao Fund will permanently close on 1 July 2025.

Established in 2000, the Mātauranga Kura Taiao Fund was created to address the urgent loss of customary Māori knowledge about te taiao. It recognised that the mātauranga of our kuia and koroua, our tohunga, pūkenga, and kaumātua, was at risk of disappearing, and that without support, many whānau, hapū, and iwi would be unable to carry forward their roles as kaitiaki.

Over the past two decades, the fund has supported hundreds of kaupapa across the motu, from the revival of rongoā and mahinga kai, to the restoration of wāhi tapu and the development of cultural monitoring tools. These projects have reconnected uri with their whenua, their wai, and their tūpuna, strengthening their tuakiritanga (identity). This deepened connection to customary knowledge and place has empowered them as kaitiaki, enhancing their ability to actively manage and protect the indigenous biodiversity of their whenua tupuna.

To all those who have walked this journey with us ka rere atu ko ngā mihi maioha ki a koutou. Thank you to the whānau, hapū, iwi, tohunga, pūkenga, kaumātua, and uri who have carried these kaupapa with aroha and determination. Your mahi has ensured that mātauranga Māori is not only preserved, but lived, shared, and strengthened for generations to come.

As we close this chapter, we do so with deep respect and gratitude. The Mātauranga Kura Taiao Fund may be ending, but the knowledge, practices, and relationships it has supported will continue to flourish.

“Ko te kai a te rangatira he kōrero.”

The food of chiefs is dialogue, and through kōrero, mātauranga lives on.

Contact us

If you have any questions about the fund, contact the Mātauranga Kura Taiao Fund Kaitakawaenga: 

Phone: +64 27 276 4773
Email: mktfund@doc.govt.nz