Marae would receive funding through a $2.44 billion permanent trust owned and governed by hapū and iwi under a Greens policy which the party says would end reliance on short-term government funding cycles.
Te Waonui a Tāne, the party's proposed 2026 Tiriti policy, would create Te Rangatiratanga Trust with dedicated Crown funding of $1.22 billion a year paid over two years.
The trust would run two complementary funds. Te Rākau Whakarauora Restoration Fund would receive $400 million over four years for priorities such as restoring buildings, emergency preparedness, climate adaptation and protecting taonga and wāhi tapu.
Greens pitch $2.4b marae fund for emergency response and investment - Watch on TVNZ+
The party pointed to marae opening their doors during crises, from the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes to severe weather in Gisborne and Northland, while facing ageing buildings and fragmented funding across multiple agencies.
A further $2 billion would seed Te Tōtara Haemata Intergenerational Fund, a diversified investment portfolio designed to preserve capital and distribute returns to hapū and iwi. Investments could include renewable energy, housing and Māori enterprise.
Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said the policy treated marae as critical infrastructure.
"When the roads are closed, marae stay open," she said.
"Marae are essential, critical infrastructure like hospitals and schools, and require dedicated, sustained resourcing like we are announcing today.
Henry McMullan caught up with whānau finally able to move into their temporary accommodation after a year of living in a marae. (Source: 1News)
"Climate adaptation requires investment in our resilience. Social cohesion requires spaces to bring people together and celebrate our unique identity."
The party said one in three marae were at risk of flooding, one in three sat in landslide-prone areas and two in five were susceptible to liquefaction in an earthquake.
Co-leader Marama Davidson said the plan would create "an ongoing and protected source of funding for marae, hapū, and the communities around them".
"Current funding for marae creates uncertainty as it's based on the priorities of the government of the day. Our marae are too important for that level of uncertainty."
It comes as Hawke’s Bay residents called on Cyclone Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell to deliver on election promises. (Source: 1News)
The Greens said the $2.4 billion figure was in line with comparable long-term public funds, including the NZ Super Fund's initial $2.4 billion contribution in 2003 and Australia's $2 billion Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land and Sea Future Fund.
The party modelled the trust spending $10 million a year on establishment costs and $100 million a year on restoration funding over its first four years.
Using Treasury investment return assumptions, the party estimated the $2 billion invested through the Tōtara Haemata fund could grow to about $3.8 billion by 2039/40, with annual distributions of between $47 million and $118 million once matured.
Under the plan, the trust's governance would be designed through nationwide wānanga with hapū and iwi, informed by constitutional transformation processes such as Matike Mai, with funding distribution able to follow Whānau Ora-style regional commissioning.
The Crown's role would be limited to establishing the trust and transferring capital, with no authority to direct investments, appoint trustees or alter funding decisions.
The party said the trust was separate from the Treaty settlement framework and would not replace any existing rights under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
National responds
In a statement, National Party Māori development spokesperson Tama Potaka called on the Greens to explain how the $2.44 billion trust would be funded.
"Our Government has co-invested more into marae alongside Iwi and hapū than any government in New Zealand’s history," Potaka said.
"This includes marae of national significance like Parihaka in Taranaki and the Ringatū complex at Ohiwa, as well as full relocations like Tāngoio in Hawke’s Bay.
"We also remain agile – for example the $1 million appropriation to marae to support immediate resilience in the January-February 2026 weather events."
Potaka said supporting marae "supports strong communities", saying they were "a place of community refuge for all Kiwis in huge weather events, are a platform for economic and tourism opportunities, and most importantly are centres of cultural significance".
"The Government works practically and directly with iwi, hapū and marae on their priorities and within a fiscally responsible approach.
"Our programme has included partnering with the Iwi Chairs Forum around evidence based resilience options (including safer buildings, water and wastewater, renewable energy and relocation options) which prioritise marae to support.
"We are also currently considering the impacts on urupā (cemeteries) and practical measures for urupā resilience."
He said the Government "has been taking pragmatic action on marae for three years, will continue to do so, and will not repeat the mistakes of the Green Investment Fund which failed to deliver and is now being wound down".
"The Green Party should explain how this will be funded and whether it increases the $18 billion hole that the Labour opposition bloc has presented to New Zealanders.”
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