The Alliance Dashboard
Explore this interactive map to learn more about the Alliance's projects in South Island.
Explore nowABOUT THE ALLIANCE
For centuries, Māori lived undisturbed in Aotearoa* New Zealand’s epic lands, rivers and coastlines. They exercised kaitiakitanga—an intricate cultural system founded on the belief that all people are guardians of nature, not mere consumers of its bounty. It is everyone’s responsibility to protect and maintain the natural world for future generations. This Indigenous world view guided how fish were caught, crops were planted, land was preserved and wildlife was protected.
*Aotearoa is a Māori name for part of New Zealand, which is now used to represent the whole country.
Based on this philosophy and acknowledging that conservation can go faster alone but further together, 15 partners came together to form the Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance, meaning “Collective Action for Our Nature.” The Alliance aims to get the best possible conservation outcomes for people and nature on New Zealand’s South Island.
Martin Rodd, Co-Chair of the Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance, describes its purpose, “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 (TNC) is supporting the Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance to provide funding, science, global expertise, financial tools and a commitment to engaging diverse stakeholders around common goals.
TNC is pleased that we can support the local Iwi and communities in achieving their aspirations for conservation through the Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance.
“TNC brings independence, proven international experience leading landscape conservation programmes and access to the latest research and thinking in conservation, economic and social tools that can make working at this scale possible. I see our partnership with TNC as game-changing for achieving our vision,” said Martin Rodd, Co-Chair Kotahitanga mō te Taiao.
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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.
STRATEGIES & FRAMEWORKS
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
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 2022 achievements in our new 2022 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.
2023 Alliance ePānui Newsletters
2021 Alliance ePānui Newsletters
In the News
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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
Bringing the Birdsong Back in New Zealand
Thanks to a dedicated team of conservationists, birdsong is increasing throughout the Marlborough region in New Zealand's South Island.
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.