The Outdoor Activity Fund (OAF) is a Sport NZ contestable fund of 1.5m over three years, administered and managed by Recreation Aotearoa. It is designed to support activities and programmes that reconnect rangatahi with outdoor recreation.

The OAF is working to bring to life some of the aspirations in Sport NZ’s Active Recreation for Rangatahi Plan. One specific action it aligns with is the commitment to better honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi by young people having a voice in bi-cultural decision making.

In order to help address funding allocation inequities, two panels were set up to assess applications for the OAF; a tangata whenua panel, evaluating kaupapa Māori applications and a tangata tiriti panel, evaluating non kaupapa Māori applications. Both panels included rangatahi in the decision-making process.

This process enhanced a shared commitment to becoming better treaty partners while role modelling a preferred decision-making approach and including members of communities or groups that are impacted by the decisions made.

Watch this short video to hear from rangatahi involved in the process and learn more about the bi-cultural panel process.

“It’s important we establish processes like this because Māori and rangatahi must be involved in decision-making that impacts them, contributing their ideas, perceptions, and experiences. Only they know what matters to them and have that first-hand experience for themselves and their peers. This only enhances and adds value. A value matua (adults) cannot tap into.”

Kuruho Wereta, Recreation Aotearoa Kaiarahi Tikanga Māori - Māori Cultural Advisor.