NOW Trust -Thank you message & Snapshot of Achievements

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Fakaaue Lahi Mahaki (Thank you) for your support

Hon.Dalton Tagelagi (Chairman of the NOW Trust)

Coral Pasisi (President of Tofia Niue & Vice Chairwoman of the NOW Trust)

As we pause momentarily for a well-earned break with family and loved ones for Christmas and the festive season, we want to thank you whole heartly for believing in us and sharing our journey through the Niue Ocean Wide Trust and partnership. Whether you have sponsored OCC’s, made direct contributions to the NOW Trust, or just encouraged us to stay the course in protecting this incredible ocean space (Niue Moana Mahu) and the very special community and country who are its guardians, we thank you.

We will send out a formal Impact Report in first quarter 2025, but for now we provide a few highlights from this past year since the NOW Trust was launched in September 2023, so you know how these much appreciated contributions and commitments are being put to use, not just in Niue but on the world stage to help scale meaningful ocean protection, climate action and support towards a future that is sustainable for everyone. May you be blessed this Christmas and New Years, just as you have blessed us with your support this year. Monuina e Kilisimati moe tau foou!

Dalton Tagelagi (Chairman of the NOW Trust) & Coral Pasisi (President of Tofia Niue, and Vice Chairwoman of the NOW Trust) on behalf of the NOW Trust and NOW Secretariat Team
CEO & Team

NOW Trust Launches in New York

Photo Credit : Joanie Coker

The Niue & Ocean Wide (NOW) Trust and its first of a kind financing mechanism , the Ocean Conservation Commitments (OCCs), launched at Climate Week in New York, September 2023, to an overwhelmingly supportive audience. Backed by the Government of Niue, Tofia Niue and philanthropic support though collaborating partners including, Oceans 5 , Blue Nature Alliance and Conservation International. Coinciding with the launch of the OCCs , Niue Ocean Wide relaunched their website to support OCC sponsorship and direct contributions to the NOW Trust
The aim is to capitalize the Trust through sponsorships of Ocean Conservation Commitments (OCCs) which are associated with 40% of Niue’s ocean space locked up as a no-take large scale marine protected area call Moana Mahu. an area of 127,000km². One OCC at $250 supports 1km² for sponsorship at $250 available in 20 year increments. An initiative to fund holistic support for Niue’s climate resilience and ecological, economic and cultural prosperity for the benefit of future generations

Dr Allan Friedlander, a renowned ocean scientist in National Geographic Pristine Seas, who lead the follow-up expedition to Niue and Beveridge, presented his Scientific Report to Niue in tandem with every viewing of the Protecting Paradise documentary on Island. Amongst other things, this highlighted a strong biodiversity uplift and a considerable increase in shark species by 40% and total biomass of fish increased by 60% observed and recorded. There were a few monumental milestones from the expedition as well, including our very own sub-mariners, Brendon Pasisi being the first sub-mariner to explore Beveridge Reef, Coral Pasisi the only Niuean female sub-mariner to explore Niue’s ocean floor, and JinNam Hopotoa the first Niuean to physically touch the Antiope Seamount. The expedition re-affirmed that with local knowledge and support, strong leadership and modern science , we can work together to effectively protect and strengthen large swaths of our pristine marine environments.

Regenerating Oceania was the main theme at the this years 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC)The NOW Trust & OCC initiative was acknowledged for its global awards, and complementarity to the theme of the festival through its support of the documentation and maintenance of traditional knowledge and practices - a crucial aspect in the NOW Trust that supports the linkage of people, culture and the ocean. Knowledge products 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.

The NOW Trust recognizes the important role stakeholders hold in progressing the crucial work and goals of the Trust. NOW has been able to facilitate workshops and consultations this year, engaging groups and entities on the island which included, Government Departments, local government bodies, NGOs, Non-profit organizations, Community groups, and re-mobilizing the fourteen village Resource Management Advisory Committee’s (RMAC’s) that were set up for every village on the island. During the last consultations in re-mobilizing the Village Council groups and RMACs, NOW Trust announced that a total of $280k has been committed to all villages to facilitate Marine Spatial Plans and this will continue for the next three years with a view to continue over the next 20 years, and hopefully in perpetuity.

Photo Credit : Niue Blue

As part of building Niue’s responsible future ocean custodians, NOW partnered with a local dive company, Niue Blue, to support 6 Niue High School Students to undertaken Padi Dive Courses.

This effort has focused in particular on supporting girls who have interests in the Marine space offering them the opportunity to see what NOW is protecting and the opportunity to pursue a career path in the marine space. This work is led by Niue Blue, a local dive company as part of their Daughters of the Deep initiative.

The NOW Trust announced its first fully funded scholarships in December this year, to the value of NZD$35,000 and invited keen and interested individuals who look to pursue a career in the marine and ocean conservation space, to apply. This is a first of its kind and offers a great opportunity for students and individuals hoping to pursue a higher education, or technical and vocational training otherwise beyond the affordability for most families in Niue. This is part of NOWs broader efforts and priorities to collaborate with educators and build up the youth of Niue a as the future custodians of our marine resources.

Another key achievement this year was NOW Project winning Environmental Finance's Impact Initiative of the Year Award 2024. Environmental Finance focuses on sustainable investment, green finance, and environmental markets.
Niue's Ocean Conservation Commitments mechanism is recognized once again to be a global leader in this space and offers a solution to scaling meaningful ocean conservation in a way that supports the resilience and livelihoods of communities in a sustainable way. NOW has consistently advocated globally for the OCC approach as an option for small island developing states who find themselves on the frontline of climate change impacts, but still supporting some of the largest healthy ocean ecosystems on the planet.

Earlier this year the Niue Ocean Wide and Trust with Tofia Niue, held its first inaugural meeting with the Board of Trustees to organize and appoint positions within the board.

From this first meeting the Board inducted as its Chairperson , the Rt Hon Dalton Tagelagi-Prime Minister of Niue, Deputy Chairperson, Ms Coral Pasisi- President of Tofia Niue and other members of the board, Hon. Mona Ainu’u ,Gaylene Tasmania – Deputy Secretary to Government ,Aviham Rubin – Vice President of Tofia Niue and Etaena Poihega -Makefu Village Council and RMAC.

The board have been able to hold two meetings thereafter discussing important decisions for work crucial to the progress of the work of the Trust. At its most recent and last meeting the budget for 2025 has been passed and we look forward to more exciting and incredible work to roll out from Trust .

NOW Trust Presents at COP28 & COP29

At COP28, our initiative made waves with its powerful impact on ocean conservation and sustainability. People from all walks of life were inspired by our dedication to preserving marine ecosystems and promoting a sustainable blue economy. The overwhelming positive reaction from attendees has ignited a wave of support, with many expressing a strong desire to join our cause and contribute to a brighter, more resilient future for our oceans.

Other Achievements coming soon

Niue Government Gifts x1 OCC to every man Woman & Child on Island
Presentation at Research Symposium Auckland University
Global Nature Positive Summit Australia
Presentation at Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Supporting Traditional Canoe Races
Support 50th Constitution Commemoration
Providing support for Young entrepreneurs and Primary School Students
Casting Off Workshop with Conservation International

For more information about the Trust and what we are doing

Click here

Message from the NOW Team

Closing out 2024

As relayed by our Trustees above, we are truly grateful for your generous sponsorship and contributions, towards a shared dream of conserving and managing our pristine ocean space and environment as a whole. We would also like to thank you for your trust, and patience as our small local team continues to build the NOW Trust to full functionality, add new staff, and build capacity to deliver on the commitments we have made to our communities, you, and the rest of the world. While we have tried to keep everyone “somewhat” updated through events-based awareness (high-level conferences and summits) media coverage, and visually through our website stories and updates along the way, we recognize we have left ourselves a little short of time this year to report back to you all in a more formal report.

An impact report will follow shortly in the first quarter of 2025, but we share here a few of the highlights as proof of action, progress and a promise of what’s to come. We hope you enjoy a glimpse of some of the highlights for 2023-2024, that you have contributed towards. It would be remiss of us not to recognize here as well our primary partners Oceans 5, Blue Nature Alliance (BNA), Conservation International (CI), National Geographic Pristine Seas (NGPS), Pacific Islands CROP agencies, GLISPA, Ripples Lab, Chapman Tripp, DevDocs, and many others for your continuous support in this journey. Without you all we would not have made it this far.

NOW Team

In July 2023 NOW, the government of Niue, in collaboration with NGPS undertook a three-week second scientific expedition, covering Niue, Beveridge Reef, and for the first time Antiope Seamount. This followed nearly seven years since the first expedition and provided great scientific comparison against the baseline set in 2016, with many new species recorded, biodiversity uplift in key species, and much more. To top it off Niuean’s were privileged to explore the ocean in the PS deep-sea submersible, and having the expedition documented in a National Geographic documentary shared globally through Disney Plus and Hulu (Protecting Paradise).

In September 2023, alongside all our primary partners, Niue launched the NOW Trust, and the innovative world-first nature-based financing mechanism - Ocean Conservation Commitments (OCC’s), and simultaneously launching the NOW Trust website and fundraising platform. The latter a culmination of 18 months of work with Partners BNA, in collaboration with technical US-based developers Ripples Lab and DevDocs.

One of the most rewarding highlights has been the success of the OCC development and proof of concept, putting Niue on the map as a world leader in innovative mechanisms for nature-based sustainable financing solutions. A concept developed by Indigenous Niuean’s, for Niue and potentially for many other Small Island Developing States SID’s globally. A challenging journey culminating in two global awards and supported and made successful by you all.

The Trustees have managed three formal meetings in 2024 and as many resolutions, including just managing in December 2024 to approve a multi-year (three-year) budget, and the first pathways for grant funding are now under way. As a priority the Trustees and secretariat have started the granting process for the fourteen village communities of Niue to start the implementation of their respective sustainable resource management plans. Fulfilling the latter promise to the village communities is both exciting and overwhelming, seeing first-hand the excitement and empowerment of stakeholder representatives, men, women, and youth alike. Equally exciting is the first ever NOW Trust Scholarship advertised and applicants eagerly awaiting a selection, for tertiary training in a field relevant to ocean and terrestrial conservation and management.

To help enhance and build capacity to operate in compliance with Charities Services requirements in NZ, the NOW Trust has taken on a NZ-based Custodian Perpetual Guardian to help with granting and related administrative services, and build capacity locally over time. We welcome PG onboard and congratulate them also as the Trusts investment management service provider.

While we are just starting out now on the granting process and sustainable financing journey, support has already been rolling out, through the NOW initiative and supporting BNA project, to support some great programmatic initiatives, including but not limited to, the certification of six Niue High School year 13 students in collaboration with local dive company Niue Blue and Daughters of the Deep, support to FestPAC Cultural group to Hawaii in support of culture and Taoga, support to local traditional Canoe/Vaka Association and Fishing Association, amongst others.

NOW has been represented by Trustee’s, staff and local government partners at all levels advocating and fundraising for the NOW Trust and NOW initiative efforts at many meetings and summits across the globe, such as the UNFCCC COP28 and 29, the UNCBD COP15, Global Nature Positive Summit and many more, and had many bilateral meetings with recognized governments to Niue, philanthropy, corporates, organizations, and individuals.

It has been a very busy year, and although we are at the end of several phases of work, we recognize that 2025 and beyond have a challenging agenda ahead. Its time to rest and recharge. Wishing you all a safe and blessed Christmas, and a prosperous and exciting new year.

Context

As a quick reminder for those who are less familiar with the Niue Ocean Wide Initiative, it represents the first true Public-Private Partnership between the Government of Niue and Tofia Niue (small local NGO), serviced by a secretariat of two individuals (recently increased to four in 2023/24) and supported by local and external partners and professionals over 8 or so years.

Funded initially by Oceans 5, through Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisers, and supported by National Geographic Pristine Seas, we have “finally” reached a point where we have largely “completed” the original goals of the NOW, being: The holistic sustainable development and management of our Ocean and its resources to improve livelihoods of Niuean’s now and into the future, through:

Goals

Development of an EEZ wide Marine Spatial Plan, inclusive of a large-scale MPA (tick).
Establishment of an effective Compliance and enforcement strategy (tick).
Establish sustainable funding and increased benefits (tick).

The NOW initiative is at a point of final reporting for two project phases of Oceans 5 project funding support, ending in 2024, but contributing financially and ready to support the NOW Trust efforts wherever possible in future. We acknowledge Oceans 5 for their tremendous support and their network of partners. In the same accord, we thank NGPS for the unimaginable scientific and outreach support that has helped move us forward and underpin the commitments made to date by Niue (Goal.1 above).

The BNA and CI have come in over the last two or so years through funding and technical support to assist in the establishment and standing up of the NOW Trust.

For those who have not yet had a chance to explore and read the NOW Trust and OCC Brochure and stories on the https://www.niueoceanwide.com website, the NOW Trust represents the sustainable financing mechanism of the NOW Initiative, and is one of the major highlights of the year or so gone.

Highlights 2023-202

The Niue and Ocean Wide Trust (“NOW Trust”) is a charitable trust under New Zealand law. It is governed by a Trust Deed dated 28 August 2023. It is a trust board incorporated under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 (NZ) with registered number 50178753 and is a charity registered with Charities Services, Department of Internal Affairs, New Zealand, with registered number CC61526.

We are elated to report here that since launching in September last year, the NOW Trust has raised nearly $6.5million dollars to date (including ~ 30% in commitments), with approximately 11,100 OCC’s formally sponsored, and we have some large and very viable proposals in development as we report with both philanthropy and multilateral financing opportunities, that we are very hopeful will be successfully achieved in 2025. Working with SPC, and other Pacific regional countries under the Unlocking the Blue Pacific Prosperity (UBPP) framework and BEZOS Earth Fund in particular, is exciting and hopefully rewarding accelerating the NOW Trust and OCC’s to success.

NOW Team & Conservation International in front of Wilson The Coconut

To Learn more about NOW Trust and Ocean Conservation Commitments (OCCs) How you can contribute to become a Care Holder of Niue Moana Mahu MPA.Please Scan this QR code