Motu

Motu Economic and Public Policy Research is an independent research institute that helps decision makers in Aotearoa New Zealand grapple with complex social and environmental issues. It operates as a charitable trust and never advocates an expressed ideology or political position. Its research is placed in the public domain.

From 2013 to 2023, the Aotearoa Foundation provided core funding for Motu’s programme “Shaping New Zealand’s Low-Emissions Future.” This programme combines economic and policy research, stakeholder dialogue and engagement to help strengthen the New Zealand EmissionsvTrading Scheme (NZ ETS), explore the big shifts needed to move Aotearoa to a low-emission future, and design policies and actions that can work with the NZ ETS to induce mitigation outcomes. It has informed decision making in Aotearoa on reforming the NZ ETS and voluntary carbon market, shaping sectoral mitigation pathways, improving economic modelling of climate change policies, and enabling just transitions.

It has also helped other countries learn from Aotearoa’s experience. The programme has attracted co-funding from over 30 government departments, businesses, institutions, and other entities.

From 2019 to 2023, the Aotearoa Foundation helped Motu launch a new programme “Solutions for Freshwater Management.”  Aotearoa is facing significant freshwater challenges and economic development, population growth, and climate change are expected to further exacerbate existing downward trends in freshwater quality and quantity over the coming decades.

Motu’s long-term goal is strategic and sustainable freshwater management underpinned by an integrated policy framework that is dynamic, intergenerational, and grounded in evidence.

The programme has delivered two working papers; numerous media releases, op-eds and media interviews; seminars to encourage public discourse on freshwater policy and action; and enhanced capacity building and knowledge sharing.

The Foundation’s support has led to more collaboration and partnership and enabled the programme to secure funding for further work on Aotearoa’s freshwater economics and policy from highly competitive funds.