Greens propose $2.4b funding to back 'critical' marae

The Green Party is campaigning on establishing a $2.4 billion trust dedicated to marae.

Co-leader Marama Davidson said marae were critical infrastructure and needed funding certainty to continue their work responding to weather emergencies and supporting communities.

Te Rangatiratanga Trust would be owned and governed by hapū and iwi, with $2.44 billion of government investment over four years.

There would be two funds within that: the $2 billion Te Tōtara Haemata Intergenerational Fund, dedicated to long-term investment in marae and their communities; and the $400 million Te Rākau Whakarauora Restoration Fund, which would provide immediate access to funding for urgent needs.

The trust would cost about $40 million to set up and run.

Davidson said the intergenerational fund could return between $47 million and $118 million once it had matured.

"This funding recognises that marae have been critical infrastructure for a long, long time, and supports marae to do even more."

She said marae voluntarily stepped up during weather emergencies, feeding and housing locals and tourists who needed it. The investment would ensure they were appropriately funded to do so.

"But it will also support marae to do longer-term planning, climate-resilience planning, adaptation planning, housing, social services, health services," she said.

The Greens would run nationwide wānanga to establish the trust, the two funds and governance mechanisms.

Iwi Māori would design it and decide where funding would go, Davidson said.

"This is actual tino rangatiratanga for iwi," she said.

"It might take about a year with wānanga throughout the motu to sort of figure out and design exactly how the funds will be distributed."

The party said the government would have no authority to direct investments, appoint trustees, alter funding decisions or interfere with the operation of the trust beyond ordinary law.