Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust

What Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust does

Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust (MKMT) is a New Zealand-registered non-profit charity and co-governed conservation trust, established in 2019/2020 and headquartered in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty. It operates the Kaimai Mamaku Restoration Project (KMRP), coordinating landscape-scale native forest conservation across 260,000 hectares of the Kaimai Mamaku ranges spanning Bay of Plenty and Waikato. MKMT acts as a backbone organisation for eight iwi-hapū-led restoration projects (Ngāti Hako, Ngāti Tumutumu, Tapuika, Te Kapu ō Waitaha, Ngāti Hinerangi, and others), providing funding coordination, reporting, GIS, health and safety, ecological expertise, and communications support. The board comprises six Māori trustees and five community trustees, with Rob McGowan (QSM) as patron.

The trust's core technology stack combines ecological monitoring infrastructure (the largest eDNA collection programme in the Kaimai Mamaku combining 31 internal and 13 public data sets; ~50 photopoints at Ngāti Tumutumu; tracking tunnels; 5-minute bird counts; the bespoke Ngahere Ora digital monitoring tool) with a trialled AI traps programme (Critter Solutions species-specific traps with SpaceX satellite connectivity). It runs training courses (Natural Forest Regeneration, NZ$500+GST) and a 'Friend of the Forest' individual donation programme. In December 2025, MKMT launched an international Nature Credits pilot with Boffa Miskell and CreditNature, and was selected for the Ministry for the Environment's Biodiversity Credit Pilot Programme.

Revenue mechanics span five streams: (1) government and council grants — NZ$18M+ managed since 2022 from Jobs for Nature, DOC, Waikato RC, Bay of Plenty RC, and the NZ$750K International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy; (2) Nature Credits sales to businesses seeking verified ESG claims; (3) business partnerships with tailored co-branding and GIS-level impact reporting; (4) individual donations via the 'Friend of the Forest' programme; and (5) branded merchandise e-commerce. With 89.9% of funding flowing directly to on-the-ground conservation, the trust's own operating overhead is structurally small relative to the programme funding it administers.

Name

Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust

Legal name

Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust

Website

https://mkm.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation and Environmental Restoration Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services (IMAMAJAM), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

Keywords

• Conservation services
• Ecological restoration
• Biodiversity monitoring
• Verified nature credits
• Environmental management

Headquarters

HQ city

Tauranga

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary funding from central government (e.g., $750,000 for feral goat eradication from International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy), Joint Agency Partnership funding from DOC, Waikato Regional Council, and Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Since 2022, MKMT has managed more than $18M of funding for pest control projects.
2. Nature Credits Sales: Sale of verified biodiversity/nature credits to businesses enabling them to make ESG-compliant nature-positive claims. Partnership with Boffa Miskell and CreditNature for the international nature credits pilot programme.
3. Individual Donations: 'Friend of the Forest' individual donations with monthly pānui updates. Every dollar goes directly to on-the-ground conservation. Registered charity with tax deductibility for donations over $5.
4. Business Partnerships: Tailored partnerships with businesses for verified nature claims, co-branding, detailed impact reporting with GIS data. Includes corporate sponsors and supporters.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise ('Friend of the Forest' merch) through an online store, with handwritten thank you cards and pickup/shipping options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust operates the Kaimai Mamaku Restoration Project (KMRP), coordinating landscape-scale conservation across 260,000 hectares of native forest in partnership with eight iwi-hapū-led restoration teams. The trust delivers predator control, pest plant management, and native afforestation while offering verified Nature Credits to businesses, donor programmes to individuals, training workshops, and ecological monitoring services (including eDNA testing and AI trap trials).

Product overview

Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust operates the Kaimai Mamaku Restoration Project (KMRP) as its core conservation programme, coordinating landscape-scale restoration across 260,000 hectares of native forest. The trust offers Nature Credits for verified biodiversity investment, an AI Traps trial programme for pest control, eDNA testing for biodiversity monitoring, Native Afforestation Workshops for capability building, and individual Friend of the Forest donations. All offerings support the central mission of restoring native ecosystems through iwi-hapū-led predator control, pest plant management, and native afforestation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kaimai Mamaku Restoration Project (KMRP): The primary landscape-scale conservation programme led by MKMT coordinating predator control, pest plant control, and native forest restoration across the Kaimai Mamaku ranges with eight iwi-hapū led project teams.
• KMRP Nature Credits
• Friends of the Forest

Products and services

• Kaimai Mamaku Restoration Project (KMRP) Landscape-scale conservation programme providing backbone support (funding coordination, reporting, GIS, health and safety, ecological expertise, communications) to eight active iwi-hapū-led conservation teams working on predator control, pest plant management, and native afforestation across the Kaimai Mamaku ranges.
• KMRP Nature Credits Verified biodiversity/nature credits partnership with Boffa Miskell and CreditNature that enables businesses to make ESG-compliant nature-positive claims while directly supporting ecosystem restoration in the Kaimai Mamaku. Sold to enterprises seeking verified conservation investment for ESG reporting.
• AI Traps Programme Trial programme testing AI-enabled traps (Critter Solutions species-specific kill traps) that recognize, arm, and humanely kill pest species while remaining disarmed for non-target native species. Features SpaceX satellite communications for remote terrain operation.
• eDNA Biodiversity Testing Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• 89.9% of funding goes directly to on-the-ground conservation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, supporting and core.

• CreditNatureflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Leading international Nature Credits provider partnered with MKMT and Boffa Miskell to launch an international nature credit pilot programme in Aotearoa. Enables businesses to make verified nature-positive claims while directly supporting ecosystem restoration.
• Boffa Miskell LimitedflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025New Zealand environmental consultancy adapting an international biodiversity credits framework to New Zealand conditions. Working with Ministry for the Environment on the NZ Nature Credit Market Framework.
• Critter SolutionssupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025AI trap manufacturer whose species-specific kill traps are being trialled in Kaimai Mamaku project area. Traps feature AI recognition, satellite communications via SpaceX, and autonomous operation in remote terrain.
• Samson Safety SolutionssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Health and safety technical support provider for KMRP. Henry Samson provides training, develops wellbeing culture, and conducts annual audits with teams. Has background in pest control and embraces te ao Māori kaupapa.
• Department of Conservation (DOC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Statutory manager responsible for administration and management of the Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park. Part of Joint Agency Partnership with MKMT, Waikato Regional Council, and Bay of Plenty Regional Council since 2020.
• Waikato Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Regional council with biodiversity monitoring and management responsibilities. Provides $200,000 over two years for labour, health and safety support, and data platform support. Part of Joint Agency Partnership.
• Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Regional council (Toi Moana) providing funding and biosecurity expertise. Co-authored economic valuation report ($568M-$645M). Part of Joint Agency Partnership.
• Joint Agency Partnership (DOC, WRC, BOPRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Formal partnership established in 2020 pooling financial resources and working together on conservation efforts in the 260,000 hectare Kaimai Mamaku Restoration Project area. Administers Environmental Programme contract.
• Priority One and Bay Conservation AlliancesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCollectively supporting businesses in their journey toward nature-positive outcomes in the Bay of Plenty through 'Partnering For Nature' initiative.
• Our Place MagazinesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership featuring KMRP projects and teams in magazine coverage, including Te Whakamaru o Horohoro feature story.
• Tane's Tree TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in native afforestation workshops featuring talks by Jacqui Aimers. Supporting forest regeneration education and training.
• Forbes Ecology LimitedsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEcological consultancy delivering Natural Forest Regeneration Training Course. Dr Adam Forbes, Senior Ecologist, provides ANR expertise and workshops on Assisted Natural Regeneration strategies.
• Aotearoa CirclesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural Capital Regional Resilience programme aims to identify climate change impacts on natural capital in Bay of Plenty and develop mitigation and adaptation responses.
• TīwaiwakasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella initiative for conservation and sustainability organisations working to scale up action. Patron Rob McGowan (Pa Ropata) provides leadership through Tīwaiwaka principles.
• Ngā Iwi TōpūcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRōpū for iwi, hapū and marae with mana whenua interests in the Kaimai Mamaku area to share ideas and opportunities. Formal partner in restoration and protection of Kaimai Mamaku.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Forest & Bird (BirdLife New Zealand): Forest & Bird is New Zealand's largest independent conservation organization protecting native wildlife and habitats. It is comparable to MKMT as a national NGO focused on predator control, native forest protection, and bird species recovery — overlapping directly with the Kōkako protection outcomes MKMT delivers.
• Predator Free 2050: Predator Free 2050 is a New Zealand government-backed initiative to eradicate introduced predators. It is comparable to MKMT as the overarching programme under which iwi-led projects like KMRP operate, with overlapping mission and shared predator control methodology.
• Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII): QEII is a New Zealand conservation trust that partners with landowners to protect significant natural and cultural heritage through open space covenants. It is comparable to MKMT as a nonprofit coordinating landscape-scale conservation outcomes and protecting native habitat across Aotearoa.

Peers

• Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP):

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/manaakikaimaimamaku
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manaaki-kaimai-mamaku-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust