Boost for vaccination efforts and Motu trails

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

More than $120,000 has been distributed to a diverse range of community projects and events in Trust Tairāwhiti's latest funding round.

Motu Trails Charitable Trust was one of the biggest recipients, receiving $30,000 towards the operational costs of the trails between Tairāwhiti and Ōpōtiki, including development, maintenance and promotions.

Food festival Essence of Tairāwhiti was supported with $15,000 for marketing and event support. The first event was held in February this year and organisers plan to grow the event next year and attract more visitors from outside the region.

Te Runanga o Ngati Porou received $30,000 for a feasibility report to consider the repatriation of Ngati Porou toi Māori from New Zealand and abroad.

Local vaccination efforts were boosted with $10,000 for Turanga Health, to go towards their drive-through vaccination operation. Open to the whole community, the drive-through aims to remove barriers and make vaccination accessible for parents of young children, the elderly and those with medical dependencies.

Whinray Ecological Charitable Trust received $10,000 for its Motu Taonga Tuatara Project, a joint initiative with Te Aitanga a Māhaki iwi. The funds will support the transportation of tuatara from the South Island that have scientific whakapapa lineage to Te Tairāwhiti.

This funding round also assisted several initiatives for young people in the region.

Riverdale School received $7225 towards the Paoa Play Project for play equipment and resources designed for children aged between five and 11 with special learning needs.

HTK Group received $5000 to go towards Programme Māori Potential, a 10-week digital accelerator programme for rangatahi to focus on digital tech solutions and come up with a pitch for investors.

E Tu Elgin Trust received $10,000 for a mobile “play trailer” filled with play and sports equipment that will be taken around parks in the area to provide more recreational opportunities for young people.

The Lions Club of Gisborne Wainui Charitable Trust also received $5000 towards its annual district convention being held in 2022.

A total of $122,225 was allocated this month. Applications for the final funding round of this year must be in tomorrow.