A rapidly expanding Western Bay Maori organisation has been given $30,000 to help build new offices.
Ngaiterangi Iwi Incorporated Society has received the money for buildings and offices on land adjacent to Whareroa Marae in Mount Maunganui.
The iwi was one of 31 Western Bay organisations to receive donations totalling $189,704 from
the Bay of Plenty Community Trust this week.
The Mount Maunganui offices from which the iwi operate are no longer big enough to accommodate the rapidly expanding organisation.
With the growth of the iwi's welfare, health, disability and drug education services, staff levels have grown from two to 12 permanent and 20 casual workers.
Ngaiterangi chief executive Brian Dickson said the money would go towards a project that could see the complex become a major cultural and education facility for Maori in the Western Bay.
"We really appreciate the grant. This is a major project and we are all excited about the future facilities," Mr Dickson said.
The iwi has made applications for consents and hope the new office would be completed by June next year.
"We have moved from rented building to rented building. This new complex at the marae with give us permanency and stability."
The other organisation to receive a significant donation from the trust was the Acorn Foundation.
The Foundation will use $35,000 towards operating costs. The non-profit foundation, which was established in 2002, enables people in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty to leave a gift in perpetuity to benefit the local community. Acorn executive director Sue Furey said the foundation's concept is quite new to New Zealand.
"Many people tend to take the conventional view of leaving assets to their children.
"But as generational wealth has grown, some people also want to give something back to their community," Ms Furey said.
