from Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki accepted the Highly
Commended award for the Inclusive Development &
Wellbeing category last night at the 2026 Economic
Development New Zealand (EDNZ) Awards in Cromwell. Pictured
from left to right: Joshua Hitchcock (Venture Taranaki
Deputy Board Chair), Stacey Hitchcock (Acting Chief
Executive), Jennifer Patterson (General Manager Corporate),
Thom Adams (Biodiversity Innovation Lead), Janet Reynolds
(General Manager Destination), and Matt Lamb (Strategy and
Investment Lead). (Supplied)
An
innovative approach to connecting economic development with
environmental conservation has earned Taranaki national
recognition at the 2026 Economic Development New Zealand
(EDNZ) Awards.
Nature Investment Pathways, a
collaboration between Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki and Wild for Taranaki
(https://wildfortaranaki.nz) received a Highly Commended
award in the Inclusive Development & Wellbeing category
at the awards held in Cromwell, on 5 November.
The
initiative is laying the foundations for Taranaki to become
a trusted destination for nature-positive investment and
experiences, creating new economic opportunities while
supporting long-term environmental
restoration.
Venture Taranaki Acting Chief Executive,
Stacey Hitchcock, says the region’s natural environment is
at the heart of what makes Taranaki distinctive as a visitor
destination.
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“From our maunga to our coastline and
native forests, nature is a fundamental part of the visitor
experience and what draws people here.”
“Visitors are
increasingly seeking meaningful connections with nature and
the places they visit, and opportunities to give back. This
project is about building on that connection and creating
sustainable investment and funding pathways that enable our
visitor economy to contribute to the protection and
enhancement of the very environment that makes Taranaki
special.”
“This recognition demonstrates what’s
possible when we look beyond traditional approaches to
economic development, working collaboratively with
complementary sectors around a shared ambition.”
The
Nature Investment Pathways project is progressing two
complementary areas of opportunity.
Firstly, Nature
investment and nature credits to explore how conservation
organisations, iwi, hapū and landowners can access new
revenue streams through verified biodiversity outcomes and
tourism pathways, reducing reliance on what is often
limited, short-term funding.
The second area focuses
on Ecotourism and developing higher-value visitor
experiences that connect people with the natural environment
of Taranaki, create opportunities for local businesses and
communities, and contribute directly to environmental
restoration and priorities.
Both areas are becoming
increasingly intertwined as a collective approach to
nature-positive outcomes is being formed with Taranaki
values and aspirations at its core.
Wild for Taranaki
General Manager, Danielle Gibas, says the recognition is
particularly meaningful for the region’s conservation
community.
“Taranaki has an incredible network of
conservation organisations, iwi, hapū and volunteers who
have worked tirelessly to protect and restore our natural
environment.”
“What excites us about this initiative
is the opportunity to build on that work and create new ways
for people and businesses to invest in nature, while
ensuring the environmental benefits are genuine, measurable
and lasting.”
“It’s still early days, but this
recognition gives us confidence that we’re heading in the
right direction and reinforces the potential for Taranaki to
lead the way in developing a nature-positive
economy.”
The level of engagement being seen from the
Taranaki conservation sector, and industry at large, has
already exceeded expectations. There is broad agreement that
the sector needs to innovate not just in the approach to
restoring the region’s taiao, but in how to support the
passionate individuals and organisations who carry out this
vital work.
The Inclusive Development & Wellbeing
category award winner was Amotai
(https://amotai.nz) from Auckland, who also took out the
overall Supreme Award at the event. Amotai connects buyers
with verified Māori and/or Pasifika-owned businesses,
helping to diversify supply chains and create meaningful
economic impact.
About Wild for Taranaki
Wild
for Taranaki is the region’s biodiversity trust supporting
more than 52 groups and organisations working to protect and
enhance the unique native plants, animals and ecosystems
within Taranaki.
Their purpose is to support and
coordinate members for better efficiency, grow funding for
the sector, and lead the region in a connected vision of
thriving Taranaki
biodiversity.