Mō Mahi mō te Taiao About Jobs for Nature
Creating jobs and economic support for people and communities across Aotearoa, while ensuring environmental benefits.
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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government established the $1.219 billion Jobs for Nature package in mid-2020 to support a greener recovery for Aotearoa New Zealand. The four-year programme will bring thousands of people into nature-based employment, benefiting te taiao (the environment) and New Zealand’s communities.
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.
Strategic oversight of the programme
The Ministers responsible for the Jobs for Nature programme are the:
- Minister for the Environment
- Minister of Local Government
- Minister of Agriculture/ Biosecurity/ Land Information
- Minister of Forestry/ Economic and Regional Development
- Minister of Conservation
- Minister of Climate Change
The Ministers have strategic oversight of the Jobs for Nature programme and are supported by a reference group.
Reference group
The Jobs for Nature Reference Group is a mix of public and private sector members with an independent chair.
The role of the reference group is to support the Ministers by providing oversight and assurance of the whole Jobs for Nature programme.
As an advisory group, it does not make decisions. Decision-making rests with Ministers and agencies as appropriate.
The reference group:
- advises Ministers on when and where funding is made available
- monitors project deliverables
- reports on project outcomes
- co-ordinates between agencies, stakeholders, and landowners
- advises on regional engagement in particular with Māori, regional councils, and the primary sector.
- advises on communications with stakeholders to ensure they know:
- what funding is available
- how to apply
- deadlines or timing constraints.
The reference group has developed an investment framework [PDF, 733 KB] to help guide funding decisions.
Doug Leeder is the independent chair of the reference group. Doug chairs Bay of Plenty Regional Council and is a member of the Port of Tauranga board. He has held governance positions at Federated Farmers, East Bay Health Board, NZ Dairy Group, Dairy Insight and Bay Milk Products.
The funding is being used to create nature-based work activities, including:
- vegetation planting for freshwater and biodiversity restoration
- fencing waterways both on public and private land
- pest and plant control (including wilding pines and wallabies)
- fish passage remediation
- skills training to support career development in environmental management.
Funding recipients include local Government, Iwi, Charitable trusts, Community Catchment Groups, community groups and private companies.