Introduction

W h a t i s t h e A l l i a n c e ?

A partnership for environmental leadership across the Buller, Marlborough, Nelson, and Tasman region –connecting people and place together for now and for the future.

Mā whero, mā pango, ka oti ai te mahi.

Through co-operation the work will get done.

This refers to co-operation where if everyone does their part, the work will be completed. The colours (whero / red and pango / black) refer to the traditional kōwhaiwhai patterns on the inside of the meeting house.

O u r S t r a t e g i c M i s s i o n

“Creating a connected and aligned region that understands, protects, enhances and future proofs the values of nature critical to the top of the South (covering components of the Buller, Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough regions in the South Island) and that this flourishing nature in turn enriches its communities.”

M e m b e r s

1. Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Charitable Trust 2. Te Pātaka a Ngāti Kōata Trust 3. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kuia Trust 4. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua 5. Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu Trust 6. Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira Inc (observer) 7. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui Trust 8. Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau 9. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae 10. Tasman District Council 11. Nelson City Council 12. Marlborough District Council 13. Buller District Council 14. West Coast Regional Council 15. Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai 16. Fisheries New Zealand (observer)

O u r F u n c t i o n

The Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance provides a collaborative framework for the alignment of landscape-scale conservation projects across Kawatiri/Buller, Wairau/Marlborough, Whakatū/Nelson, and Waimea/Tasman regions. The Alliance provides strategy, support, context, and advice, and an opportunity to share and collaborate on projects and to coordinate or support funding applications, which is essential as the Alliance is not a legal entity. Partners and project teams come together with the common goal to support this work. The Alliance is also helping to build capacity and capability across iwi and community to lead and/or support collaborative landscape-scale conservation mahi. This includes building relationships with potential funders and/or endorsing leveraged funding opportunities to achieve outcomes. The Alliance partners are committed to ensuring that Kotahitanga mō te Taiao delivers not only environmental outcomes but also supports social, cultural, and economic outcomes for the region.

T N C ’ s r o l e

In 2020, the Alliance signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) New Zealand Trust to formalise a mutual collaboration, with the purpose of TNC facilitating and supporting the implementation of the Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Strategy. TNC support for the Alliance includes access to expertise and capacity covering:

Experience, processes, and global connections on landscape-scale planning and implementation

Connections with similar projects in other countries and within New Zealand for shared learning experiences and capability development

Access to innovative tools to support communities achieve their conservation aspirations, particularly regarding land-use change and best practice Experience of sustainable financing approaches for delivering conservation outcomes

Fundraising expertise and capacity

TNC’s role is to leverage off this expertise and capacity to propose a strategic agenda, programmes, and projects, aimed at identifying joint agendas and possibilities for cooperation for implementing the Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Strategy. G o v e r n a n c e a n d M a n a g e m e n t

All members of the Alliance participate in governance. This involves: 1. Control of core programme activity and budgets (e.g., conservation planning, communications, new project scoping). 2. Oversight of the full range of the Strategy relevant projects that are led or formally sponsored by Alliance members and are subject to separate governance. 3. Alignment to other projects and initiatives that are Strategy-relevant, but largely sit outside of Alliance member control.

ALLIANCE WESTPORT WĀNANGA – FIELD TRIP | NOMAD AV