Just below the surface of the ocean looking up towards the surface

FAQs

Do you have questions about Moana Mark? Find the answers here on our Frequently Asked Questions page.  

A guide leads a group of tourists on a kayaking trip off the coast of Kaikōura

Individuals >

  • Anyone who cares about the ocean. Whether you're visiting Aotearoa or live here, your donation goes directly to marine research that protects our moana.

  • Every dollar supports real marine research, from whale monitoring to penguin tracking. You’re helping fund fieldwork, data collection, and conservation decisions.

  • Besides knowing you're making an impact, you'll receive updates on the projects you support and can become a Moana Mark ambassador, helping spread awareness of ocean conservation.

  • Yes! You can donate to a specific project listed on our website.

  • Funded Projects - receive financial contributions through Moana Mark. These funds are raised from our partners and donors and are used to directly support research activities.

    Endorsed Projects - do not receive funding but are recognised as credible, high-quality projects aligned with our mission. We support them through visibility, awareness, and connection to our network.

  • All projects go through a review process that includes:

    • Eligibility checks 

    • Documentation review 

    • Scientific assessment 

    From there, projects are assigned one of three statuses:

    • Funded – financially supported 

    • Endorsed – supported through visibility only 

    • Waiting for Funding – approved but pending financial support 

  • Your contribution goes directly toward Funded Projects.

    We are committed to transparency. Only projects that are clearly labelled as Funded receive financial support through Moana Mark.

  • Yes. Endorsed Projects may transition to Funded status if funding becomes available and the project aligns with donor or partner priorities.

  • Not all impactful research requires immediate funding but it still deserves recognition.

    By endorsing projects, we:

    • Highlight credible and meaningful work 

    • Support researchers through visibility 

    • Help connect projects with future funding opportunities 

    This allows us to support the wider marine research community, not just the projects we can currently fund.

  • Yes, all projects will be clearly labelled as:

    • Funded

    • Endorsed

    • Waiting for Funding

    This ensures full transparency for both partners and donors.

  • A small portion (10% for donations over $1,000) is allocated to core operational costs such as maintaining our platform, communications, and reporting. This ensures we can sustainably support both projects and partners.

    This is always communicated transparently.

Wings Over Whales planes fly over Kaikoura

Businesses >

  • Any business that wants to give back to the marine environment. From independent stores to small tour operators to large corporates, all are welcome.

  • You can donate any amount, but to become a Moana Mark Partner, the minimum donation is $1,000.

  • Your donation goes directly to marine research projects across Aotearoa New Zealand. These include whale surveys, seal monitoring, and penguin tracking, among others.

  • Absolutely. You can select a project that aligns with your values, location, or area of interest.

  • Donate $1,000 and receive:

    • A Moana Mark Partner logo to display on your customer channels.

    • Quarterly updates via an email newsletter.

  • Donate $5,000+ and receive:

    • A Moana Mark Premier Partner logo to display on your customer channels.

    • Quarterly updates via an email newsletter.

    • A feature on the Moana Mark website as a Premier Partner

    • An annual report

    • Access to a marine biologist to give a presentation to your team

    • Build trust with sustainability-minded travellers

    • Show leadership in responsible tourism

    • Increase appeal to international markets

    • Motivate and engage your team with a purpose-led partnership

  • Moana Mark applies a 10% contribution on donations over $1,000 to support essential operational costs, including platform management, communications, and programme coordination.

    This ensures we can sustainably deliver, manage, and grow the impact of funded projects.

    The remaining 90% is directed to marine research and conservation initiatives.

  • Funded Projects - receive financial contributions through Moana Mark. These funds are raised from our partners and donors and are used to directly support research activities.

    Endorsed Projects -do not receive funding but are recognised as credible, high-quality projects aligned with our mission. We support them through visibility, awareness, and connection to our network.

  • All projects go through a review process that includes:

    • Eligibility checks 

    • Documentation review 

    • Scientific assessment 

    From there, projects are assigned one of three statuses:

    • Funded – financially supported 

    • Endorsed – supported through visibility only 

    • Waiting for Funding – approved but pending financial support 

  • Your contribution goes directly toward Funded Projects.

    We are committed to transparency — only projects that are clearly labelled as Funded receive financial support through Moana Mark.

  • Yes. Endorsed Projects may transition to Funded status if funding becomes available and the project aligns with donor or partner priorities.

  • Not all impactful research requires immediate funding — but it still deserves recognition.

    By endorsing projects, we:

    • Highlight credible and meaningful work 

    • Support researchers through visibility 

    • Help connect projects with future funding opportunities 

    This allows us to support the wider marine research community, not just the projects we can currently fund.

  • Yes, all projects will be clearly labelled as:

    • Funded 

    • Endorsed 

    • Waiting for Funding 

    This ensures full transparency for both partners and donors.

  • A small portion (10% for donations over $1,000) is allocated to core operational costs such as maintaining our platform, communications, and reporting. This ensures we can sustainably support both projects and partners.

    This is always communicated transparently.

A marine researcher sits on a colourful turquoise boat taking notes on a clipboard

  • Anyone with a solid idea and a commitment to marine science. We support projects from:

    • Academic researchers (including postgraduate students)

    • Universities and research institutions

    • Registered charities and incorporated societies

    • Iwi-led environmental initiatives

    • Community conservation organisations

    • Collaborative science partnerships

  • We support projects focused on Aotearoa’s marine species or environments that produce shareable scientific outcomes and meet our research criteria.

  • All project proposals must:

    • Have a clear research question or hypothesis

    • All scientific claims in a proposal must be scientifically accurate (with references to supporting peer-reviewed sources)

    • Be feasible, with a capable team

    • Include ethics approval or permits if required

  • Each project proposal is reviewed by our team for clarity, scientific integrity, and feasibility. We approve projects on a rolling basis.

  • We ask you to share results in accessible, engaging ways. This could include:

    • Photos and updates

    • Pre-prints or publications

    • Presentations (online or in-person)

    • Datasets, protocols, or final reports

  • Partners need to see the impact of their support. It helps build trust and keeps our funding model transparent and community-driven.

  • No set timeline, but we encourage bi-annual reporting or updates when key milestones are reached.

  • You can email your proposal to us by clicking on the button below. Your proposal should include the evaluation criteria listed above.

  • Funded Projects - receive financial contributions through Moana Mark. These funds are raised from our partners and donors and are used to directly support research activities.

    Endorsed Projects - do not receive funding but are recognised as credible, high-quality projects aligned with our mission. We support them through visibility, awareness, and connection to our network.

  • All projects go through a review process that includes:

    • Eligibility checks 

    • Documentation review 

    • Scientific assessment 

    From there, projects are assigned one of three statuses:

    • Funded – financially supported 

    • Endorsed – supported through visibility only 

    Waiting for Funding – approved but pending financial support

  • Yes, Endorsed Projects may transition to Funded status if funding becomes available and the project aligns with donor or partner priorities.

  • Not all impactful research requires immediate funding — but it still deserves recognition.

    By endorsing projects, we:

    • Highlight credible and meaningful work 

    • Support researchers through visibility 

    • Help connect projects with future funding opportunities 

    This allows us to support the wider marine research community, not just the projects we can currently fund.

  • Projects must first be reviewed and approved. Once approved, they may:

    • Be matched with partners 

    • Be included in funding campaigns 

    • Move from Endorsed or Waiting for Funding to Funded

  • Yes, all projects will be clearly labelled as:

    • Funded 

    • Endorsed 

    • Waiting for Funding 

    This ensures full transparency for both partners and donors.

  • A small portion (10% for donations over $1,000) is allocated to core operational costs such as maintaining our platform, communications, and reporting. This ensures we can sustainably support both projects and partners.

    This is always communicated transparently.

Researchers >