New income steams a key focus

Te Hōnonga a Iwi Chair Sheryl Blythen reports back from the November meeting of the Strategy Committee

Identifying new income streams is a key priority for Te Hōnonga a Iwi’s Strategy Committee.

We are very grateful for the financial support the project has received from Auckland Council, the Upper Harbour Local Board, and other funders including NZ Landcare Trust, BUPA, Foundation North and SkyCity.

However, to secure a sustainable future for the restoration and mara kai/community garden, we need to broaden and diversify our revenue base.

We have a fantastic family of partners from the local and wider business community, but given our restoration site sits on the edge of one of the largest industrial and commercial centres in Aotearoa, we have only begun to tap into the potential support available.

Our goal now is to develop a suite of sponsorship opportunities, ensuring we clearly articulate the benefits and value of partnering with Te Hōnonga a Iwi. A key part of this work will be ensuring any commercial partnerships are developed in alignment with iwi expectations and cultural values.

Alongside this, we will continue to grow our fundraising efforts, including initiatives such as the Gifts That Grow Christmas gift guide launched this month.

As we extend the area of land under active restoration, we will also be able to explore whether generating carbon credits could become a viable future income source.

Another priority for 2026 will be a website refresh to ensure we accurately reflect the breadth and depth of expertise—and the dedicated people—contributing to the project.