{"id":1021,"date":"2024-03-19T00:43:15","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T00:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.littlerocket.co.nz\/NOW\/?post_type=our-actions&p=1021"},"modified":"2026-07-08T05:11:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T05:11:34","slug":"advocacy-leadership","status":"publish","type":"our-actions","link":"https:\/\/dev.littlerocket.co.nz\/NOW\/our-actions\/advocacy-leadership\/","title":{"rendered":"Advocacy & Leadership"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Niue to advance ocean protection with a $4M Bezos Earth Fund grant<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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NIUE TO ADVANCE OCEAN PROTECTION WITH $4M BEZOS EARTH FUND GRANT<\/strong>
US$4M Grant to Niue Ocean Wide Trust from the Bezos Earth Fund Will Help Deliver Government and Community Partnership-Led Ocean Protection and Community Stewardship Priorities
Alofi, Niue (15th September , 2025)  A US$4 million investment from the Bezos Earth Fund<\/a> will support the permanent protection and sustainable management of Niue\u2019s ocean through the Niue Ocean Wide Trust – a sustainable finance mechanism – designed to help safeguard Niue\u2019s marine environment, ecosystems, and support long-term, community-led ocean protection.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The funding will support the Niue Ocean Wide Trust in delivering ocean conservation through marine spatial planning and strengthening marine management plans ,as well as management compliance, working closely with key stakeholders within our government, Non-Government organizations , Village Councils and Resource Management Advisory groups in our communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/em>This work contributes to the vision outlined the Niue Ocean Wide Initiative (NOW), to build a resilient, blue economy that is reinforcing of long term ocean protection, climate resilience and sustainable development for Niue, and supports \u201cUnlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity,\u201d a regionwide strategy endorsed by Pacific leaders to sustainably manage 100 percent of the ocean and protect sites of ecological and cultural importance.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI really appreciate this very significant contribution to the NOW Trust and OCC\u2019s.  In addition to the significant<\/em>  volume of funding, the respect Bezos has accorded us by using our own home grown sustainable financing mechanism to deliver these resources through is a game changer.  Moving away from traditional funding paradigms that have not worked with crippling merry-go-rounds of unsustainable and administratively burdensome project development and reporting primarily driven by donor interests.  <\/em>This marks a turning point in respect for the custodians of the blue Pacific Continent, the largest healthy blue lung on the planet and cradle of Noah\u2019s Ark in marine diversity\u201d<\/em>  <\/em>President, Tofia Niue -Coral Pasisi<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Niue Ocean Wide Trust is supporting this work as part of a larger $37.5 million initiative announced by the Bezos Earth Fund to accelerate early implementation of marine protection across 12 Pacific Island countries and territories. The Earth Fund has pledged $100 million to support Pacific-led conservation, ocean governance, and durable finance solutions.

For further information: Shanta Viviani – Hekau
Communications Manager and Funding Grants Officer 
+64 22 321 4172 
Shanta Viviani-Hekau: shanta.viviani-hekau@nowtrust.org
Niue Ocean Wide Trust

The Niue and Ocean Wide Trust (NOW Trust) was created in 2023. The Trust emerged from the Niue Ocean Wide (NOW) Project, a public-private partnership between the Government of Niue and the local NGO Tofia Niue. The NOW Trust has a bold vision: to respond more rapidly and equitably to environmental, cultural, and economic challenges by putting communities, especially indigenous peoples, at the center of conservation financing and governance. It represents an innovative partnership between philanthropy, indigenous peoples, local and international resources and government. It exemplifies a growing commitment to culturally informed giving, especially among those seeking to support indigenous-led solutions and community-led development with humility and respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bezos Earth Fund<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 2020 by Jeff Bezos with a commitment of US$10 billion, to be disbursed by2030, with the goal of fighting climate change and protecting nature. It is a philanthropic grant-making organization. It awards grants to scientists, activists, NGOs, community groups, etc. Its philosophy is that big, systemic, bold interventions are needed incremental change alone is not sufficient. It\u2019s interested in ideas that can lead to transformational change. It emphasizes working in coalition: partnering with governments, local communities, NGOs, science bodies etc., and focusing on justice (environmental justice) so that those most affected by climate\/nature crises are included. As of 2025, the Bezos Earth Fund has granted approximately US$2.3 billion of its $10 billion commitment.

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A Moment of Royalty & Legacy<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Niue’s Groundbreaking OCCs | Presented to King Charles III – Mobilizing Frameworks and Finance Event<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Hon. Mona Ainu\u2019u, Minister of Natural Resources, and Coral Pasisi, Vice President of NOW Trust, honored His Majesty King Charles III with a symbolic Ocean Conservation Commitment (OCC) in his name. A gift of purpose and protection for our shared ocean. A 20-year promise to protect and build resilience for generations to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In addition, he received a special edition bottle of Niue Honey from our Bee Sanctuary and a WWI commemorative coin honoring Niuean soldiers who bravely stood beside and in support of the United Kingdom. The King was moved and deeply grateful and congratulated Niue for the fantastic work they are doing. He noted how small Niue was but how significant our efforts were in paving the way towards protecting nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe are on the front line of the triple planetary crisis, but we are also holding that front line. Our large swarths of pristine ocean space (half the size of the UK) under strict protection are invaluable contributions to global planetary stability. The OCC is a way that any stakeholder can help us, becoming a care-holder in the longevity of this incredible natural asset, and providing an invaluable gift of intergenerational equity,\u201d<\/em>  Coral Pasisi, in the quick fire caf\u00e9-style Roundtable sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the first year of implementation, funds raised are already having great impact on the ground high school students getting PADI certification, territory scholarships in ocean related qualifications, and Niue\u2019s first parametric insurance product against cyclones amongst the many other highlights,\u201d<\/em>  Hon. Mona Ainu\u2019u, responding to audience questions on the use of OCC proceeds.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In the final wrap-up reporting, Niue\u2019s OCCs were acknowledged by the facilitator Dr. Rhian-Mari Thomas OBE, Chief Executive of the Green Finance Institute, as an inspiring example of leadership in the nature-type credits space (video recorded).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niue, through the NOW Trust, now joins a network of international stakeholders led by Dame Amelia Fawcett, Co-Chair of the International Advisory Panel for Biodiversity Credits, who will continue to progress advancing innovative nature financing including nature-type credits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niue hopes to help ensure that ocean conservation does not come at a disproportionate burden to small island developing states, but rather can have real benefits to island communities\u2019 resilience and sustainable development as well as to the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oue tulou tulou Coral Pasisi and Hon. Mona Ainu\u2019u for, with such a quick turnaround from UNOC3 in Nice, setting sail again to harness this opportunity for Niue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facebook – <\/em>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/v\/16mbSYQdMy\/<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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NOW Trust & OCC – Maintenance of traditional knowledge at FestPAC (Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture) <\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Regenerating Oceania was the main theme at the this years FestPAC (Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture).The NOW Trust & OCC initiative was complementary to the theme of the festival through its support of the maintenance of traditional knowledge and practices – a crucial aspect in the value drivers of the OCC- which addresses the linkage of people and the ocean. We captured Niue’s traditional knowledge holders at FestPAC sharing their views emphasizing the significance of maintaining our cultural practices. Leading up to and coinciding with FestPAC a special acknowledgement was made by Maria Fuata (Deputy Director General, SPC) which highlighted Niue’s leadership in ocean conservation through the OCC financing mechanisms and its astonishing impact in the region<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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