Tāmaki Taiao Alliance launches to boost nature regeneration across Tāmaki Makaurau
Established in partnership with the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) and Auckland Council, the Alliance brings together community groups, mana whenua, businesses, philanthropy and local government to deliver coordinated, combined conservation outcomes.
The three-year pilot aims to raise $3 million, with $1.5 million already secured - if successful the number of projects supported will grow. Auckland Council, Foundation North, OfficeMax and Chapman Tripp are confirmed partners, with additional partners expected to join. The Alliance is inviting organisations to participate and co-invest, helping to secure a healthier, more resilient natural environment for current and future generations.
The Alliance responds to the urgent environmental challenges facing the region by moving beyond fragmented projects to a landscape scale approach. By aggregating investment, expertise and effort across sectors, the Tāmaki Taiao Alliance will initially support seven high-impact projects that together reconnect ecosystems from the Hauraki Gulf to the Manukau and Kaipara harbours, and from Rodney to South Auckland.
Auckland Council General Manager Environmental Services Samantha Hill says the Alliance represents a new way of working together for nature.
“The Tāmaki Taiao Alliance is a powerful co-investment opportunity for businesses and agencies to amplify their conservation impact, protect taonga species and grow community-led action.
“By bringing together partners, funding and expertise, the Alliance enables us to deliver greater benefits for people and nature in Tāmaki Makaurau, accelerating landscape-scale restoration beyond what any single organisation could achieve alone.”
The seven initial initiatives span island projects, ngahere (native forests), repo (wetlands), awa (streams) and urban green spaces, collectively reconnecting around 350,000 hectares of fragmented ecosystems. Each project is mana whenua led or closely connected to mana whenua, strengthening kaitiakitanga and ensuring cultural integrity and intergenerational sustainability.
The Alliance is grounded in the principle of taiao ora, mauri ora, “nature is life”, a vision shared by Te Pu-a-Nga Maara. Success will be measured through tangible outcomes such as healthier waterways, increased tree canopy, pest-free islands, protection of drinking water supplies, and thriving populations of native manu (birds). Alongside ecological gains, the initiative supports community wellbeing and creates nature-based employment and training opportunities.
Sustainability Business Network founder and CEO Rachel Brown says the Alliance has been created to meet the scale of the challenge.
“Tāmaki Auckland is facing an ecological crisis that threatens our health, economy and our children’s future. Fragmented efforts are not enough. We need coordinated action at scale, backed by investment that empowers communities to restore nature. Our vision is a region alive with birdsong and connected communities, and we’re seeing that vision take shape through this Alliance.”
The Tāmaki Taiao Alliance will also establish a community of practice, fostering shared learning and collaboration between community groups, mana whenua, business, philanthropy, council and government. Operating as an incubator for nature, it provides structure, expertise and capital while delivering measurable impact.
