“Climate change is a health issue, an equality issue, an educational issue, an economic issue, a cultural issue, a scientific issue, a security issue and a local community issue, as well as an environmental issue.”
Te piko o te māhuri, pērā te tupu o te rākau
The way the young shoot bends is the way the tree will grow
With a vision to enhance lives, Foundation North takes a regenerative and intergenerational approach to climate action. We recognize the impact of human activity on our environment and the planet we all share.
Our Climate Action plan, which is rooted in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, takes a systems-change approach to how we commit our resources to responsibly invest in a tika transition. It also aligns with our strategy to prioritise greater equity, social inclusion and a regenerative environment for future generations.
Adopted in 2021, the Climate Action plan's key goals were based on extensive interviews with Tangata Whenua, other community stakeholders and our sibling community trusts.
As we continue to learn in this space, we have evolved these goals to identify five Climate Action commitments:
- Have regard to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and support Māori aspirations in climate action.
- Support an equitable transition to an inclusive low-emission society with thriving biodiversity.
- Support place-based leadership opportunities where shared climate solutions can be realised.
- Learn and grow climate resilience alongside communities
- Decarbonise our investments and operations.
Alongside our commitments, our four strategic levers have also evolved to action our goals:
- Investments - Leveraging influence over climate and ESG factors across our investment portfolio to achieve carbon net zero by 2025 and beyond.
- Granting - Integrating climate objectives into our internal strategy while supporting our communities to lead climate action externally.
- Operations - Reducing our carbon footprint while influencing and motivating behaviour change across our staff.
- Collective action - as a signatory to Climate Action Aotearoa, we recognise the climate crisis. Guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi, we aim to accelerate effective and collaborative climate responses for greater equity and wellbeing. More details on progress can be found on Climate Action Aotearoa’s website.
Foundation North Climate Action Plan
Progress Report Oct 2024 - March 2025
This report articulates the actions the Foundation has taken in the last six months across its four climate action levers. These levers, which are activated by staff across Foundation North’s team, are instrumental in building leadership within the Foundation and working towards our climate action goals.
Foundation North recognises that transformative philanthropy is required to activate climate action through a systems change lens. Our focus for this period has therefore been on developing a frame to assist us in navigating the complexities of systems change and guide our approach going forward. Wai, Kai and Alternative Energy have been identified as three climate areas to focus on, building our capability to tackle root issues with our priority communities.
Ātamai
Each month, staff have the opportunity to engage in a session led by our Kaihautū Ngātahi, designed to foster a deeper understanding of Te Tiriti and its practical application - moving from concept to context and embedding it into our daily lives.
Currently, staff are participating in a series exploring the intersection of Te Tiriti and climate change, integrating mātauranga Māori with Western science to build a more holistic perspective. Through this learning, we are deepening our understanding of how the environment and human actions are intrinsically interconnected, paving the way for more conscious and informed decision-making.
Advocacy
Foundation North is also strengthening its advocacy efforts alongside our priority communities. In the past six months, we have made two formal submissions on matters that directly impact our communities and te taiao, and reflect our ongoing commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
- Foundation North feedback on Auckland Council pre-consultation'Let's Protect Our Environment'.
- Foundation North submission on the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill.
Investment Lever
Foundation North’s investment decisions strike a mindful balance between ensuring a return that meets our financial return objective, continuing to enable consistent grants to the community, transitioning our portfolio into carbon-neutral investments, and integrating sustainable practices.
All investments need to align with our Statement of Investment Policies and Objectives prepared by Trustees and reviewed on an annual basis. The latest version approved in November 2024 can be found here. The SIPO commits to a net-zero emissions portfolio by 2050 or earlier, integrates ESG principles across investments, and excludes fossil fuels like thermal coal and oil sands. It also seeks investments that reduce emissions, support environmental regeneration, and align with the Paris Agreement, ensuring long-term sustainability through ethical and responsible investment practices.
A number of new investments have been made, the Nuveen Climate Inclusion Fund, a private equity fund that dedicates capital towards an inclusive climate transition, and the CIM Urban Income Investment Fund. Key projects of CIM Urban Income Investment Fund include renewable energy, water storage and water-to-value initiatives, and infrastructure to support growing communities. They are committed to the net-zero Paris Agreement 2050.
Another good example of one of our investments is Direct Capital, which was the first private equity fund in New Zealand to formally adopt an ESG policy. One of their investments is TG limited.
For Foundation North’s investment portfolio, we work closely with our Asset consultants to ensure that our investments comply with our Sustainable Investment Policy.
Operations Lever
At the Operations level, there remains a strong commitment to fostering mental models, facilitating meaningful cognitive shifts, and deepening awareness through action. To drive this effort, the team is implementing a strategic work plan - T.A.I.A.O (Teach, Activate, Inspire, Act, Outcomes) - designed to cultivate learning and engagement. This approach integrates structured ako sessions, dynamic activations, accessible resources, and tangible actions that create lasting, positive impact. By weaving these elements together, the initiative seeks to empower individuals and teams to embrace transformative thinking and embed meaningful change into their practices.
As the Operations Lever continues to track internal emissions, efforts are underway to set targets aimed at minimising them. Transport has been identified as a key area where the lever can provide meaningful support. In this reporting period, the focus has been on raising awareness around transportation, envisioning a city designed to be walkable, accessible, and rich in shared spaces and an activation inviting staff to try an alternative mode of transportation and inviting conversations around the barriers, opportunities and accessibility of our transport system.
Foundation North has been a Workride provider for six months now, increasing the opportunity and accessibility for staff to purchase an e-bike for commuting. We have seen around 10% of staff take up this offer, and a number of staff already joined the community via e-bikes or vehicles.
Granting Lever
The Granting Lever has refined and strengthened its program of work for the year, aligning with systems change and creating opportunities to deepen our knowledge and practice internally, while expanding our support for the community in their climate planning efforts.
In the reporting period, 61 grants totalling $13,899,238 were approved, including a community building project, supporting predator-free movements and collaborative projects.
The team has actively participated in various climate conferences, fostering connections within the community and continuing to learn, take action, and enable meaningful change alongside our partners.
The regenerative kai space is one that is intrinsically linked to our wellbeing, and our Funding Team has been interested to participate in ecosystem mapping for Tāmaki; looking at the relationships between organisations, key people and strategically how we can strengthen these networks. We have been partnering with Auckland Council in supporting the Kai Innovators Incubator - a programme designed to transform South Auckland’s food systems through innovation, collaboration, and a strong foundation in locally led approaches and mātauranga Māori. In November, we celebrated the success of seven emerging social enterprises, nurtured through the Incubator, as they came together to host the vibrant Mana Festival Showcase.
Collective Action Lever
Collective mahi during the reporting period was focused on:
- Kaupapa of National Significance: Leaders of Aotearoa's Community Trusts have once again agreed Climate Action as the theme for the Kaupapa of National Significance. Foundation North has doubled its contribution to this national fund ($440,000), acknowledging the significant impact collective funding can have on a national scale, especially for climate action. Other Community Trusts have also contributed, which has increased the total funding pūtea. The criteria for the fund remains the same as last year with some refinements.
- Climate Action Aotearoa (CAA) Co-leads Arohanui West and Esther Whitehead delivered free, online webinars Te Pūaha Talks to build capacity and capability for the wider community. Check these out here.
- Advocacy remains a vital mechanism for ensuring that the CAA collective's perspectives and voices are heard and can influence decision-making. The Co-leads remain actively engaged in this space, continuing to represent and elevate these shared views. Submissions can be viewed here.
