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 will close to applications on 23 February 2024. Applications will then be assessed, and decisions made by the end of March.

Submissions for time sensitive applications will close on 12 January 2024, with payment to be made by the end of January 2024.

To access the second Tukua round, an application must be provided to Tupu Tonu describing the activity or initiative the disbursements used for and the outcomes that are hoped to be achieved. Applicants can apply by filling out an application form on this page.

Tupu Tonu will consider 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.

Tupu Tonu will consider applications from any Ngāpuhi hapū, marae or rōpū (organisation) that identifies or affiliates to Ngāpuhi.

Applicants will need to provide information about their hapū or whānau, or an explanation about how the organisation they are seeking disbursements on behalf of affiliates to Ngāpuhi, including any relevant whakapapa information. This information will then be considered by the panel that is convened to advise the Tupu Tonu Board on the applications. This panel will include selected Ngāpuhi kaumatua and hapū leaders.

Tupu Tonu will give priority to applications that:

• can demonstrate they are Ngāpuhi hapū/whānau/community-led;
• can demonstrate they are well supported by Ngāpuhi hapū/whānau/community;
• will meet a Ngāpuhi hapū/whānau/community need;
• have not already received other funding for the same purpose;
• allow for a reasonable spread of funding across hapū and rohe; and
• are from hapū that did not receive funding in the first round

Tupu Tonu will not provide disbursements to applicants where the disbursements will only benefit one individual and other exclusions set out in the terms and conditions on the Tupu Tonu website.

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.

Whether GST on disbursements is payable or not will depend on the GST status of the recipient. Typically, individuals that are not GST registered would not incur any GST consequences. In paying out disbursements to successful applicants, Tupu Tonu will make payments on a GST inclusive basis. Successful applicants will need to consider any GST implications that may apply to them and factor that into their application.

There is no limit to the number of applications your hapū, whānau or organisation can make. However, where the total amount requested by successful applicants is above the total amount available for this round, Tupu Tonu will look to prioritise those applications that allow for a reasonable spread of funding across hapū and regions. In this situation, it is likely that Tupu Tonu would only look to fund one application.

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.