Tukua is the name for the Tupu Tonu disbursements programme and means ‘to give with integrity’. Every year, Tupu Tonu sets aside a portion of its annual investment returns to provide to Ngāpuhi hapū, whānau and rōpū (organisations). Tupu Tonu has completed the first Tukua round and the second round is now open.

When Tupu Tonu was established, the government stipulated that a portion of annual investment returns (up to 20 percent) ought to be made available to Ngāpuhi hapū and whānau immediately. This was to provide immediate to support to hapū and whānau while negotiations were in train and to demonstrate the type of benefits that could accrue from a commercial investment fund. Accordingly, the focus of Tukua is on supporting Ngāpuhi hapū and whānau in capacity and capability building as well as social and cultural development.

The second round comprises funds available for disbursement from the 2022/23 financial year. The round opened on Tuesday 28 November 2023 and closed to applications on 23 February 2024. Applications are now being assessed. Tupu Tonu aims to make funding decisions made by the end of March.

Tupu Tonu is considering applications for grants for any kaupapa, activity, objective or initiative that supports

• capacity and capability building; or
• social or cultural development.

Types of activities that groups may seek funding for include, but are not limited to:

• Capacity and capability building: hapū governance support; marae administration/co-ordination; training programmes.
• Social and cultural development: marae repairs and maintenance; taonga preservation; housing feasibility studies; rongoa Māori; Kura Reo; researching and publishing hapū histories.

For the second Tukua round, Tupu Tonu has upwards of $600,000 available in total. Tupu Tonu is seeking applications for grants up to $10,000.

Applications will first be considered by a panel including panelists, including selected Ngāpuhi kaumatua and hapū leaders. Each application will be assessed against the application criteria. Decisions on applications will be made by the Tupu Tonu Board.

Tupu Tonu disbursements are not associated with, nor will it impact on, any hapū Treaty of Waitangi (‘Wai’) claims. Disbursements are not “on account” of any future Treaty redress agreement between ngā hapū o Ngāpuhi and the Crown. While Tupu Tonu was set up for the purpose of acquiring assets for the Crown to offer in redress discussions with ngā hapū o Ngāpuhi, and growing the overall value of the fund, there is no direct relationship between Tupu Tonu disbursements (Tukua) and those redress discussions. Rather, the purpose of the disbursements is to support Ngāpuhi social and cultural development, and capacity and capability building now.