The Reorua Contestable Fund champions the use of te reo Māori in the Whakatāne District. The funding focus is for events, projects, and activities that encourage and uplift te reo Māori.
Ko tōku reo tōku ohooho, ko tōku reo tōku māpihi maurea.
My language is my awakening, my language is my treasure.
Te reo Māori is a taonga that holds a vital place in the cultural fabric of Aotearoa. At Whakatāne District Council, we are committed to celebrating and supporting the growth of te reo Māori across our rohe. We are proud to have two of our town centres recognised as Reorua townships, Whakatāne in 2023, and Murupara in 2024.
For more information on what’s eligible for funding, and the application process, read the guidelines for this fund:
Applications
Applications are open from Monday, 23 June to Sunday, 13 July 2025.
Funding available
Up to $13,000 is available for the June/July funding round.
Eligibility
- Applications are accepted from both individuals and organisations.
- Applicants are welcome to make a presentation to our Community Funding Committee about their project. You can let us know if you want to make a presentation in your application form.
- Applications should align with the goals of this fund.
For a full list of eligibility criteria, read our Reorua Contestable Fund Guidelines.
Whāinga / Goals
- To improve the understanding and use of te reo Māori in our communities.
- To make te reo Māori seen, heard, felt, spoken and valued throughout the Whakatāne District.
- To develop resources and programmes that revitalise and encourage the use of te reo Māori all around the Whakatāne District.
- To increase opportunities for people to engage with and learn te reo Māori.
Funding Decisions
Funding decisions are made at Community Funding Committee meetings. The funding panel comprises of three Councillors, alongside two representatives from Ngāti Awa and Ngāti Manawa, with support from council staff. This includes a representative from the Council’s Toi Kōtuia team (Strategic Māori Relationships) whose role is to report to and advise the panel on the applicants and their applications.
Find out more
For more information on the Reorua Fund, contact our Community Funding Advisor on 07 306 0500 or email grants@whakatane.govt.nz.