Pūtea Manaaki | Hardship Grant

Immediate financial support for registered Ngāi Tahu whānau experiencing hardship.

Closes

The Pūtea Manaaki hardship grant programme closed on 4 September 2026. No new applications are accepted; eligible applications received before that date are still being reviewed and honoured

Who can apply

Registered Ngāi Tahu members aged 18 or older who meet the hardship criteria

Whakapapa

Registered Ngāi Tahu tribal member. You need a six-digit whakapapa registration number to log in to Te Kopa Ora, the grants portal.

Amount

Up to $500 for whānau with up to two dependants, or $750 with three or more dependants

Funding route

Grant

Applicants

Individuals & whānau

Before you apply

The documentation is the hard part and it is worth knowing before you start. You need proof of identity, proof of income such as a WINZ letter or two pay periods of payslips, and two months of the most recent statements for every bank account and credit card in your name, sole or joint. Covers essential living costs in serious hardship, including accommodation, rent, mortgage, rates and necessary maintenance on the home you live in. Everything goes through Te Kopa Ora, the Ngāi Tahu grants portal, using your six-digit whakapapa registration number and password. No number means no application, so start the registration process first if you are not on the register. Contact centre 0800 524 8248.

Official source →

Checked 16 September 2026

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Details change without notice. Check the funder's own page before you apply. Tōku Waka does not administer, assess or award this funding.