Jobs for nature

The $1.219 billion programme is managed across multiple government agencies to benefit Aotearoa’s environment, people, and regions.

The agencies administering the funding are Ministry for the Environment, Department of Conservation, Ministry for Primary Industries, Land Information New Zealand and Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (Kānoa – Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit).

Kānoa allocated $40.9 million from the Provincial Growth Fund reset towards the Jobs for Nature programme. The primary focus was to create 1 to 2-year employment opportunities at pace.

Learn more about the Provincial Growth Fund and the Provincial Growth Fund reset:

The Provincial Growth Fund reset

Fencing of waterways

The Fencing of Waterways programme was used to construct fences, exclude stock from waterways and undertake riparian planting on stream margins. Some pest and weed control was undertaken across various projects in order to protect new planting.

Funding was allocated to the fencing of waterways in response to COVID-19 and the immediate need to generate employment particularly for communities most at risk.

Programme outputs

Kānoa funding was fully allocated, contracted and underway in January 2021.

• 579 jobs were filled across 35 projects. These jobs represent part-time and full-time roles. 
• 53% of these jobs were filled by Māori.
• 35% were previously unemployed or displaced by COVID-19.
• 25% of employees were aged between 15 to 24.
• 76% of employees were local.
• Environmental outputs include 927 km of fencing and 979 ha of planting.
• Works are complete on 26 projects. The remaining 9 projects are expected to be completed by the 2023/24 financial year.

An interim evaluation on the programme has been completed by Ministry for the Environment (MfE). This evaluation noted the increased value gained through incorporating social procurement objectives into contracts. An evaluative review of reporting responses from fencing of waterways recipients is underway by MfE.