Here is more detail on what the Whakahiko Ōtaki–Energise Ōtaki Fund committee is looking for.
Funded projects reflect Energise Ōtaki’s focus areas. They help Ōtaki/Te Horo thrive by:
- contributing to reducing Ōtaki/Te Horo’s climate emissions, or
- contributing to reducing Ōtaki/Te Horo’s energy consumption, or
- turning local ‘waste’ into energy, or
- exploring renewable energy systems, or
- encouraging interest in energy subjects or issues, particularly for young people, or
- supporting our people by ‘doing good’ in the Ōtaki/Te Horo community.
All funded projects benefit our community, contribute in some way to a circular economy or sustainable energy-related future… and involve solutions that don’t make further problems!
We accept applications from anyone anywhere, including:
Individuals and whānau; businesses; community organisations; schools and kura; marae; other institutions …as long as the project itself is based in or directly benefits Ōtaki or Te Horo.
We accept applications to fund:
- Artworks
- Inventions
- Educational content
- Events
- Study support for energy-related courses (e.g. at university, wananga, polytechnic, or shorter courses or workshops)
- Prototype development
- Transitions to make existing businesses more energy efficient (e.g. energy audits)
- New enterprise development
- New and ongoing projects
- Equipment or materials for new or ongoing projects
- Projects and applicants who have previously received Whakahiko funding
…as long as they meet the focus area criteria.
We are looking for:
- Innovative projects that help produce renewable or recovered energy for using locally – e.g. wind energy, waste to energy/ circular economy projects
- Energy initiatives that focus on climate action and wider environmental issues, including carbon sequestration – e.g. tree planting
- Projects that reduce energy demand – e.g. bike projects; local food production projects (which reduce transport needs)
- Projects that reduce energy wastage – e.g. energy conservation in homes; avoiding making food waste
- Projects that tackle energy poverty in Ōtaki and its impact on health and wellbeing – e.g. sewing projects which help keep a house or people warm
- Projects that help Ōtaki families, households and businesses reduce their energy costs
- Education and learning projects around energy or energy use – including initiatives that might lead to work for young people in energy-related fields
- ‘Transitional’ projects that help us along the way to a low carbon future.
Got questions?
- We have two workshop sessions for in-person korero about your project: Tuesday, 27th September some time between 6:30-8:30pm, and Saturday 8th October, sometime between10:30am-1:00pm. These are in the Gertrude Atmore Study Room, Main St. Ōtaki. Feel free to just come, but if you can email to tell us you’re coming, we can set you a time so you don’t have to wait.
- You can email us any time at whakahiko.otaki@gmail.com or
- Drop in to the Energise Ōtaki office. We’re open 10am-2pm, Tuesdays to Thursdays at 7 Main St.