Kia Kotahi Ako
Spark students' solutions to a better future
About
Our purpose: positively disrupting inequitable systems in Aotearoa through targeted initiatives that enable the full potential of Māori.
Mō Mātou | About us
Established in 2021, Kia Kotahi Ako (Learning As One) is an alliance of Edmund Hillary Fellows, activating education initiatives that will have the biggest impact for Papatūānuku (mother earth).
Kia Kotahi Ako serves as a catalyst for Māori to design, navigate and realise prosperous futures
Kia Kotahi Ako serves as a catalyst for Māori to design, navigate and realise prosperous futures
WHY? We have a climate crisis and an inequitable education system. We’re working to tackle both of these issues - together. We’d love your help. Read the full story here.
Celebrating 3 Years
We're excited to share our story celebrating the first 3 years of Kia Kotahi Ako and how leading through a kaupapa Māori approach can create the equitable outcomes we need for our schools, communities and Paptūānuku (Mother Earth).
As we look to the next 3 years of Kia Kotahi Ako, plans are underway to raise NZD $1 million for 2025-2027 programme delivery and business development with a goal of NZD $400k for 2025. This will mobilise resources (skills, funds, connections, storytelling and sharing learnings) to support mana motuhake (self determination) for Māori communities, and disrupt inequitable systems to benefit Papatūānuku (Mother Earth).
2025 programme goals
1. Expanding community Solar education- this flagship initiative focuses on achieving energy sovereignty (Mana Motuhake) and enhancing wellbeing for Māori communities through climate education, solar system design, and community action.
- Taranaki: expanding and developing this solar education programme to 4 kura kaupapa Māori (Māori immersion schools) and their communities.
- Te Tairāwhiti East Cape: developing community resilience through adult solar education programmes that develop solar business prototypes in 4 communities and expanding to 2 kura (schools).
2. New site for Te Pā Wānanga- 21st century Māori Learning village
- Ōtautahi Christchurch: This unique 21st-century Māori learning village integrates mātauranga Māori-centred education, wellness facilities, gardens, rongoā (traditional healing) orchards, and staff housing to support health for people and Papatūanuku. We're supporting their team with advice, connections and funding to accelerate their vision and purchase land at a new site.
3. Building a sustainable social enterprise
- We are planning a feasibility study into potential ideas for sustainable revenue for Kia Kotahi Ako. This would be setting up a linked social business that also contributes to our overall vision, covering the majority of our operating costs in future.
2025 budget
Firstly, we are raising NZD $400k (US$250k) to achieve our 2025 goals. In future years we are aiming for more of the programme costs to be covered by new revenue streams.
- $250k- for our team to design and deliver programmes, enable long-term community change, deepen our relationships with partners and share community success stories and learnings.
- $25k- additional specialist programme support e.g. resource translation, design and evaluation.
- $20k- for programme travel and workshop resources.
- $50k- for a feasibility study and to set up a social enterprise.
- $35k- for our operating expenses (incl. travel, training, office space, insurance and subscriptions).
As you know, we are a lean team with 2 FTE employees, 2 part time staff, an amazing group of volunteer board members, advisors and champions alongside additional specialists as required. In 2025, we have also budgeted for an additional $50k of staff time for training more local facilitators and community leaders to run programmes.
Reach out to: [email protected] if you would like to see further budget details or specific projects. details behind this budget and our vision or to get involved with our mahi.
Remember that for Edmund Hillary Fellows, philanthropic funding counts towards PRV points and we are happy to chat through this more with you.
*Note our budgets are indicative and will be adjusted to have the biggest impact. All donations made are unrestricted funding.
Our team
Contribute
Become a financial contributor.
Projects
Support the following initiatives from Kia Kotahi Ako.
Project
Empowering rangatahi Māori to find their purpose and become future leaders
Project
Te Pā students are global finalists in the Zayed Sustainability Prize. They need your help to tra...
Project
Send students to represent their region at National Kapa Haka Competition
Financial Contributions
Goal
Yearly Supporter
Your yearly committment means we can focus our efforts on supporting community projects that will change the system and improve humanity and the pl... Read more
$0.00 NZD of $400,000 NZD / year raised (0%)
Starts at
$5,000 NZD / year
Goal
Monthly Supporter
Your recurring monthly donation means we can focus our efforts on supporting community projects that will change the system and improve humanity an... Read more
$0.00 NZD of $400,000 NZD / month raised (0%)
Starts at
$20 NZD / month
Goal
One-off donations
With your donation, we can kick-start and incubate more initiatives tackling climate change and improving health and wellbeing through education an... Read more
$128,018.59 NZD of $400,000 NZD raised (32%)
Starts at
$1 NZD
Kia Kotahi Ako is all of us
Our contributors 14
Thank you for supporting Kia Kotahi Ako.
Sarah Grant
Admin
$10,001 NZD
huia lambie
Core Contributor
Te Waiora Wan...
Admin
Joanne McEachen
$30,000 NZD
Satya Kumar
$30,000 NZD
Richard Bodo
$21,000 NZD
Homai School
$17,860 NZD
Anonymous
$10,000 NZD
Jeff Schlichting
$5,000 NZD
Tim Derrick
$5,000 NZD
Heather
One-off donations
$500 NZD
Guest
One-off donations
$240 NZD
Connect
Let’s get the ball rolling!
News from Kia Kotahi Ako
Updates on our activities and progress.
Who’s In the Waka? Building the Future of Education—Together
Re-posting our Chair, Joanne McEachen's recent article: 🌍 The boat is leaking. And no amount of patching will save it. What if the answer isn't to fix the system… …but to remember how we used to navigate? 🌊 “Who’s In the Waka?” is a conti...
Published on April 2, 2025 by Sarah Grant
Kia Kotahi Ako - Impact Report
Impact Opportunity · “We are also raising awareness of the ever-increasing importance of rising to opportunities for meaningful change in ways that, led by a kaupapa Māori approach, can create equitable solutions i...
Published on June 10, 2024 by Te Waiora Wanoa-Sundgren
Sharing a solar-powered future
Kia Kotahi Ako Trust, an alliance of EHF Fellows, is at the forefront of solar-powered education in Aotearoa NZ, drawing on indigenous knowledge to tra...
Published on June 10, 2024 by Te Waiora Wanoa-Sundgren
Budget
Transparent and open finances.
Credit from Frederique Irwin to Te Ara Rangatira •
+$1,000.00NZD
Completed
Contribution #832486
+$5,000.00NZD
Completed
Added funds #816646
-$30.00 NZD
Paid
$
Today’s balance$244,449.50 NZD
Total income
$256,059.06 NZD
Total disbursed
$11,609.56 NZD
Estimated annual budget
$500.00 NZD