Fund set up to assist tangata whenua
The Customary Fisheries Research Fund provides financial assistance for fisheries research to help tangata whenua manage their customary fisheries. It also helps tangata whenua who are working towards gazettal, or are currently gazetted, under the Kaimoana Customary Fishing Regulations 1998 or the South Island Customary Fishing Regulations 1999.
Strategic objectives of the fund
The strategic objectives are to:
- collate information on fishing practices of Māori that may need to be considered when making fisheries management decisions
- assist Māori to manage and measure the outcome of customary practice within their rohe moana (coastal area) that adds to their traditional and customary well-being
- determine past levels of Māori customary and traditional harvest levels and help clarify the relationship between customary and traditional rights and current harvest levels
- provide customary fisheries information to enhance and add value to sustainable fisheries management processes.
2023 funding
The 2023 funding round will open in August. See below for key dates:
- 6 August 2023: Open for phase 1 applications to Customary Research Fund.
- 4 September 2023: Closing date for applications.
Successful applicants will be notified by mid-September to go on to phase 2.
Evaluation of phase 2 will be early October, with results to be finalised by end of October. Details and confirmation of funding agreements will be completed by November.
A guide to customary research proposals and processes (2023–2024) [PDF, 365 KB]
History of fund
Fisheries New Zealand's Customary Fisheries Research Fund was created following the establishment of the Kaimoana Customary Fishing Regulations 1998 and the South Island Customary Fishing Regulations 1999 (the Customary Fisheries Regulations). To help comply with parts of the Customary Fisheries Regulations, Māori requested funding to better research:
- traditional and oral information related to customary gathering
- traditional practices with regard to mahinga mātaitai and tauranga ika.
Find out more
Fisheries (Kaimoana Customary Fishing) Regulations 1998 – NZ Legislation
Fisheries (South Island Customary Fishing) Regulations 1999 – NZ Legislation
Who to contact
If you have questions about customary fisheries research or the fund, email customaryresearch@mpi.govt.nz
