Media Release

25 October 2012

Waikato River Authority’s Second Funding Round Closes Next Week

The Waikato River Authority’s second funding round, which has been open for applications for more than a month, closes next Friday (2 November).

The funding round follows a refresh of the Authority’s funding strategy and an increase in the Authority’s geographical responsibility to include all of the Waipa River catchment. The River Authority is again making $6 million available for river clean--up projects for the coming year. The Funding Strategy 2012 together with the application template is available at www.waikatoriver.org.nz until Friday 2 November.

Passing of new legislation, the Nga Wai o Maniapoto (Waipa River) Act 2012, has meant the Authority’s vision and strategy now applies to a wider area with the upper Waipa River catchment being added to the whole of the Waikato River catchment. The Crown has added an additional amount of clean--up funding to take account of the increased area.

Waikato River Authority chief executive, Bob Penter, says funding applicants will be notified before Christmas whether or not they have been successful. In the Authority’s first funding round, which began last year, $6 million was allocated to a total of 46 clean--up projects.

The Waikato River Authority is a co--governance body established between the Crown and Waikato River iwi to restore the Waikato River.

The government has committed $220 million over a 30--year period to restoring the health and well being of the river.

ENDS

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