Under its charter and the Act covering pokie machine trusts, Trillian must give money to not-for-profit, community-based groups. We asked Ateed if it applied on its own behalf or on behalf of some other non-profit organisation.
Ateed confirmed it applied on its own behalf. The council affiliate, which has a multi-million budget, competed for a grant against the likes of Te Aroha Toy Library, Pioneers of Canterbury under-16 marching team and the Dynamo Cycling Club.
Ateed is the prime supplier and supporter of funds for events across the Auckland region. If it gets funds from a trust to raise money for (principally) children, youth and lifesaving causes, did worthy community organisations miss out on that $40,000?
Ateed's response: "This would need to be answered by Trillian Trust."
Trillian CEO Dean Agnew says: "The funds for Ateed were to the best of my knowledge for a school education programme around the Volvo Ocean Race, which fits in with what Trillian's major focus is."
The Aucklander asked the organiser of a long-running regional event, who has previously criticised Ateed and its processes compared with previous councils and state funding agencies, what they thought of the grant. Because the organisation relies on public help for support and marketing, the organiser has requested anonymity.
"I am gobsmacked! We are surprised to see a [council] agency apply and get funded through a licensing trust such as Trillian. It is my belief that Government agencies cannot meet the criteria for the support of trusts like Trillian.
"We would argue that by competing with other charities for funding Ateed are actually being anti-charity. On the one hand they are financially dominant in the events sector and can make or break an event, and then on the other hand they can somehow apply for funds from the trusts sector that non-Government events rely on."
WHAT IS TRILLIAN?
The Trillian Trust is an Auckland-based charitable trust, incorporated in May 1999. It operates pokie machines at bars from Northland to Nelson-Marlborough. It has nine venues in Auckland, mainly suburban bars.
It was formed to support
NZ-based charitable and not-for-profit organisations through grants for specific purposes that benefit the community.
Its website and published accounts show that in its last financial year the trust gave more than $6 million to 200-plus community organisations, mostly sports clubs but including the Morrinsville Toy Library (to buy drawstring bags) and Auckland Coastguard (to replace rapid-response rescue boat).
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