The Alliance Dashboard
Explore this interactive map to learn more about the Alliance's projects in South Island.
Explore nowAbout the Alliance
Meaning “Collective Action for Our Nature,” Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance (KMTT) is a unique collaborative model of Iwi (Māori Indigenous tribes), Councils and Government (17 partners in total) based in the top of New Zealand’s South Island. It aims to restore and enhance nature across 3.4 million hectares of land and sea.
Aotearoa New Zealand’s Māori people traditionally managed the lands they lived on and waters they fished through an indigenous cultural system of guardianship known as kaitiakitanga. Their management of, and relationship with, natural resources—fishing, cropping, hunting—were guided by Te Ao Māori (the Māori worldview), a holistic approach that recognizes the interconnections between people and nature. KMTT was founded on the principle that conservation can go faster alone but further together, and adheres to the principles and values of the Māori worldview as a guide in this journey.
For the latest news and updates, follow Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance on LinkedIn!
Under the KMTT umbrella, the partners are working collectively towards the best possible biodiversity restoration and climate outcomes for people and nature living in the northern regions of New Zealand’s South Island (“Top of the South”). KMTT is creating cohesion at scale around land, forest and marine restoration, support for regenerative business models and controlling invasive species—building on indigenous knowledge and western science. Through KMTT, partners can strengthen existing connections and projects, share expertise and build scale and impact into their work through effective collaboration.
Quote: Martin Rodd
Our conservation challenges are vast as we seek to regenerate our freshwater catchments, from our mountains to our seas, revive our native plants and animals that exist within these landscapes and restore our peoples connection to them.
The Nature Conservancy supports KMTT by providing facilitation, funding, science and global expertise. It offers access to financial tool development and a commitment to engaging diverse stakeholders around common goals. In 2023, TNC supported the development of an implementation pathway plan, which will drive delivery of the KMTT strategy—a high-level vision capturing the partners’ aspirations for the region. From this work we will drive a further program of investment into the most critical intervention opportunities.
This strong, integrated, implementation plan was developed using the Restoration by Design process, which draws on the Conservation by Design 2.0 framework. TNC brought additional funding to KMTT to enable financial support for iwi participation, scoping reforestation projects, increasing restoration work on land and at sea, supporting community planning activities, and piloting blue carbon and invasive wasp control.
Quote: Martin Rodd
TNC brings independence, proven international experience leading landscape conservation programs and access to the latest research and thinking in conservation, economic and social tools. I see our partnership with TNC as game-changing for achieving our vision.
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Vision, Mission & Values
Strategic Vision
Our extraordinary natural heritage is flourishing, having been restored over large areas, including where people live. People live, care for, and benefit from the environment in ways that bolster natural ecology together with the communities that live within them.
Mission
To create a connected and aligned region that understands, protects, enhances, and future proofs the values of nature critical to the Top of the South that this flourishing nature in turn enriches its communities.
Alliance Documents
Values
Manaakitanga
To care for each other, to be respectful, and an act of reciprocity of natural resources to be shared with others
Kaitiakitanga
Provision of active utilization, preservation, conservation, maintenance, and management of the environs (including flora, fauna, aquatic and marine)
Matauranga Maori
Acceptance and acknowledgement of Maori epistemologies within the construction of key concepts and projects
Kotahitanga
Unity of purpose and collective agreement for achievement of outcomes and goal
Rangatiratanga
The chiefly right to determine use and management of the natural environment
Mauri
The principle life force of our environs is protected including their tapu and wairua
Arohatia
Duty of care and responsibility to this Kaupapa, each other, and Iwi
Quote: David Johnston
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini. Our strength does not come from ourselves alone, our strength derives from the many.
PARTNERS
Partners
Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Trust
Te Pātaka a Ngāti Kōata Trust
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kuia Trust
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua
Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu Trust
Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui Trust
Rangitāne o Wairau Settlement Trust
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae
Tasman District Council
Nelson City Council
Marlborough District Council
Buller District Council
West Coast Regional Council
Kaikoura District Council
Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai
Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira
Ministry for the Environment – Manatū Mō Te Taiao
Fisheries New Zealand – Tini a Tangaroa
Alliance ePānui - Newsletters
ePānui Newsletters
KMTT: The Year in Review
Check out the Alliance's 2023 achievements in our new 2024 annual report.
Introducing the Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance
The Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance was formed in 2017 to help people and nature thrive.
Te Hoiere / Pelorus Restoration Project
An ambitious approach to look after the whole catchment from the mountains to the sea (ki uta ki tai).
Contact us at kotahitanga@tnc.org to receive our newsletters straight to your inbox.
2025 Alliance ePānui Newsletters
2023 Alliance ePānui Newsletters
2021 Alliance ePānui Newsletters
In the News
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Unique ecosystems saved from collapse, thanks to Jobs for Nature
The Flora Project has controlled invasive weeds at 150 ecologically significant sites across Te Tauihu/the top of the South Island. Read More
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Restoring and Protecting Flora Project leaves a legacy
Major weed infestations threatening high-value ecosystems at 150 sites across Buller, Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough have been controlled by a Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance (KMTT) landscape-scale weed project coming to an end this month. Read More
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Musseling in on the action
Seafloor mapping has discovered multiple previously unknown horse mussel (Hururoa) beds Read More
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Winged warriors to tackle wasp problem in top of south
The first golden soldiers born to take on the wasp crisis in the top of the south have been released into the wild. Read More
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Great spotted kiwi found far from home
The discovery of a great spotted kiwi at the northern tip of the South Island is a boost for local pest eradication efforts. Read More
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TNC Partnership Featured on Radio Waatea
Interview with Abbie Reynolds, our Country Director and Hemi Sundgren, co-chair of the Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance (Radio Waatea) Read More
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Sawflies released in Marlborough to suppress old man’s beard
European sawflies have been released in parts of Marlborough in an attempt to combat the growth and spread of another European import—old man’s beard. Read More
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Big funding boost helps Ōpārara River Source to Sea project
Restoring and Protecting Flora is supporting the Ōpārara River Source to Sea project Read More
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Effort to control wilding kiwifruit underway (page 8)
The Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance Restoring and Protecting Flora is controlling the threat of invasive wilding kiwifruit vines, which could impact natural habitats across the top of the South. Read More
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Effort to control wilding kiwifruit underway (page 4)
The Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance Restoring and Protecting Flora is controlling the threat of invasive wilding kiwifruit vines, which could impact natural habitats across the top of the South. Read More
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New partners strengthen Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance
One iwi and two government agencies signed the MOU with Kotahitanga mō te Taiao at en event in August in Blenheim. Read More
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BBC Earth showcases conservation efforts at the top of the south
Conservation partnerships in the Marlborough Sounds have hit the international stage as BBC Earth releases a 12-minute video on how nature can help to solve the climate crisis. Read More
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BBC documentary puts spotlight on South Island conservation work
A conservation project in Pelorus, at the top of the South Island, has featured in a short film for the BBC's Our Frozen Planet campaign. Read More
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Volunteers give endangered bats a chance to thrive
More than a decade of volunteer mahi by Marlborough and Nelson locals to protect and restore the Te Hoiere/Pelorus catchment is giving the critically endangered pekapeka-tou-roa/long-tailed bat a chance to thrive. Read More
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Scientists gain insights into long-tailed bat colonies at Pelorus
After five years, scientists have gained a better understanding of the population of long-tailed bats that live at the Pelorus River, between Nelson and Blenheim. Read More
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Co-governance means rubbing out your line in the sand
'Faster alone, further together': A large collective of iwi, councils and government discovers a better way to conserve the plants, animals and waters at the top of the South Read More
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Restoring and Protecting Flora in Karamea and surrounds
The Restoring and Protecting Flora project will be targeting pampas and wilding conifers on Karamea Spit, banana passionfruit and ginger along the Karamea River, and pink trumpet vine along the Oparara River, among other locations. Read More
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Long term gains in sight for Restoring and Protecting Flora project
As well as providing employment in Kawatiri, the project is controlling infestations that will restore the environmental values at select sites. Read More
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Young native plantings prove hardy against flood damage in Te Tauihu
Kotahitanga mō te Taiao riparian planting projects in the top of the South showed their resilience during the floods of August 2022. Read More
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Conservation alliance partners with leading international environmental org
Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance announces partnership with The Nature Conservancy Read More
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Work begins on multimillion-dollar project to restore water quality
The Kotahitanga mō te Taiao launches the Te Hoiere/Pelorus catchment restoration project Read More
Desired outcomes include:
Contact us to find out how you can help support the delivery of the outcomes or learn more at kotahitanga@tnc.org.
READ MORE
A Pathway to the Future
The Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance (KMTT)'s Strategy Implementation Pathway Plan (SIPP) aims to protect the places and treasures we love and turn the tide on catastrophic climate change.
Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance Project Dashboard
Explore this interactive dashboard and learn about Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance projects in South Island, New Zealand.
Advancing Blue Carbon in New Zealand's Coastal Wetlands
The Nature Conservancy in New Zealand is investigating the potential of wetland restoration that could generate carbon and climate resilience credits.
Cool Green Science
Tracking the Tiny Bats of Aotearoa
TNC's Justine Hausheer went in search of these hard-to-find little night-flyers at a known bat habitat in the top of New Zealand's South Island.
A Curious Carnivorous Snail
Meet the powelliphanta snail, a weird and wonderful New Zealand endemic giant gastropod that slurps earthworms like pasta.
Meet the Mysterious Freshwater Eels of New Zealand
The New Zealand longfin eel, the only endemic freshwater eel species in the country, is also one of the strangest and most surprising fish.
Meet Four Amazing Endemic Parrots from New Zealand
New Zealand is home to a small handful of endemic parrots, all of which can hold their own against the world's more famous macaws and cockatoos.
