Financial Assistance Scheme Consultation 2024-2025
Consultation is now open on proposed changes to the Takutai Moana Financial Assistance Scheme. Consultation will run from 13 December 2024 – 21 February 2025.
The below information was originally shared in our 13 December 2024 pānui.
Note: Links for the online hui will be available here from the week of 13 January 2025.
Background
The Takutai Moana Financial Assistance Scheme supports applicants seeking recognition under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011. With an annual limit of $12.023 million, the Government is considering further measures to ensure the Takutai Moana Financial Assistance Scheme is sustainable while providing equitable access to funding for applicants.
In July 2024, interim changes to the Takutai Moana Financial Assistance Scheme were implemented for the 2024/25 financial year to manage costs within the annual limit. When the changes were signalled, we said we would come back to applicants to consult on proposed permanent changes for the scheme.
Here [PDF, 273 KB]is a discussion document detailing the proposed permanent changes. The consultation period runs from 13 December 2024 to 21 February 2025. Consultation will run for 10 weeks to ensure sufficient time for meaningful participation beyond the holiday season.
Proposed permanent changes to take effect or continue from 1 July 2025:
The four proposed permanent changes for consultation are as follows:
- Budgeted Work Plans: Continue the requirement for all groups to have an agreed budgeted work plan with Te Arawhiti before funding is provided.
- Alignment with Legal Aid Rates: Continue alignment of legal service costs for hearings with legal aid rates for consistency and equity.
- Milestone-Based Funding: Introduce pre-approved funding releases tied to milestones as per agreed work plans.
- Prioritisation Process: Introduce criteria to allocate funding annually for activity and court costs, including potential funding caps.
What is the rationale behind these proposed permanent changes?
- To better support applicants while managing limited resources effectively.
- To provide certainty of funding availability through clear allocation processes.
- To ensure equitable cost management, with legal fees aligned to legal aid rates.
- To enable enhanced flexibility and less administration for applicant groups, through milestone-based funding provided in advance.
How can you get involved?
There are two ways to be involved:
- Attend one of our online facilitated hui to discuss the changes and provide feedback. The hui are scheduled as below. Links to the hui will be published on this page from the week of 13 January 2025:
January 15 2025 12:00pm – 1:00pm January 23 2025 5:30pm – 6:30pm February 12 2025 12:00pm – 1:00pm February 19 2025 5:30pm – 6:30pm - Have your say on the proposed permanent changes detailed in the attached discussion document by providing feedback to takutaimoana@tearawhiti.govt.nz by 5pm, Friday, 21 February 2025.
Discussion Document
| Discussion Document [PDF, 273 KB] |