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A project to restore and protect the Mangawhai Harbour spit has secured $18,000 from Northland Regional Council’s latest Climate Resilient Communities Fund.
The Mangawhai Distal Spit Planting Programme is one of 15 community-led projects across Taitokerau sharing $480,000 in funding for initiatives aimed at strengthening resilience to climate change.
The 2026 round is the third allocation from the fund, supporting projects focused on energy, water, food systems, ecological restoration and climate adaptation planning across Northland.
Demand significantly exceeded the $480,000 available, with 90 applications seeking a combined $3.5 million.
Northland Regional Council Chair Pita Tipene said the level of demand highlights both the growing awareness of climate risks and the willingness of communities to take practical action now to build resilience for future generations.
The successful projects range from solar power and water security initiatives at marae, to dune restoration, regenerative farming, youth leadership programmes, and hapū-led climate adaptation planning.
“Climate resilience is strongest when it is built locally. These projects are community-led, grounded in local knowledge and priorities, and focused on creating solutions that work for the places and people of Taitokerau,” Tipene said.
Among the successful projects was the Mangawhai Distal Spit Planting Programme, which received $18,000 to restore the Mangawhai Harbour spit using locally sourced native plants.
Also in the Kaipara region, the Future Ready Farms project received $39,725 to support regenerative and climate-adaptive farming practices across the district.
The Climate Resilient Communities Fund supports community-led initiatives aimed at strengthening climate resilience across Taitokerau.
Since it was established, the fund has invested about $1.65 million across 59 projects, spanning food, water, energy, nature-based resilience, and planning and education.
