Bay of Plenty Regional Council has set 15 per cent of their $108 million 2016/17 annual budget to work with communities, iwi, other councils and partners.
The council would also be working with communities to set limits under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.
Chief executive Mary-Anne Macleod said collaboration would help protect and maintain the Bay of Plenty's environment.
Portions of the annual budget would be going to:
Providing more than $500,000 to community groups:
o $310,000 allocated to community initiatives through the Environment Enhancement Fund
- $100k to Envirohub
- $55k to ARRC Wildlife Trust & SPCA
- $12k to surf Lifesaving New Zealand
- $10k to the Sustainable Business Network
- $10k to the Tertiary Intentions Strategy
- $30k for applications to the Corporate Sponsorship Fund
- $20k to Toi EDA
- $35k to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Te Rangi to assist with Kaitiaki, Matauranga and Rangitahi development