Our history

In 2008, the Todd and Tindall Foundations established the Hikurangi Foundation to create positive action on climate change. Since then, we’ve been able to fund and support a wide range of grassroots and community-led innovation across New Zealand.

We were named after Mt Hikurangi, a mountain in the east of New Zealand’s North Island.

According to Māori mythology, the mountain was the first part of the North Island to emerge when Māui pulled it as a giant fish from the ocean. The mountain is also traditionally regarded as the first land in the world to catch the rays of the sun each day.

We also use a Māori expression – Ko te kete aronui – the pursuit of knowledge to help mankind - to help frame our thinking and practice.

Over time, Hikurangi’s mission has evolved to focus on five key focus areas, and our incubation model now supports a range of social enterprises and social entreprenuers throughout the country.