Nōku te Ao Puna Pūtea | Social Action Grants

Grants for mental health advocacy projects that challenge stereotypes, judgement and discrimination towards people with mental distress or illness. The Nōku te Ao strategy is grounded in kaupapa Māori, so applications must speak to its kaupapa Māori principles.

Closes

Runs in annual or near-annual rounds (funded 2022, 2023, 2025) — check the Mental Health Foundation for the current round's dates

Who can apply

Individuals, community groups, marae, hapū, iwi, rōpū and organisations. Applications must address one or more of the Nōku te Ao kaupapa Māori principles — all carry equal weight. Applications drawing on Pacific knowledge and values are also encouraged, using the Fonofale model.

Amount

$10,000 to $40,000

Funding route

Grant

Applicants

Individuals & whānau, Marae & hapū, Iwi & Māori organisations, Organisations & providers

Before you apply

Funds training programmes, wānanga, talanoa, workshops, social media campaigns, creative installations and performances. The Foundation runs online criteria workshops during the round — worth joining before you write. Requiring applications to speak to kaupapa Māori principles is unusual for a national health funder and works in favour of Māori-led applicants.

Official source →

Checked 17 September 2026

Applied for this one? Tell us how it went. Reported outcomes are the only way to know whether this directory actually helps whānau get funded.

Something wrong here? Tell us and we will check it

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