Grants of over $170k approved: Trust funding for cultural, sport, technology groups

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

More than $170,000 in community grants has been approved by Trust Tairāwhiti in its latest funding round.

Cultural, sporting and tech initiatives across Gisborne and the East Coast are on the list of recipients.

Two roopu have been selected for the national secondary schools kapa haka competition in Nelson  in June — Tūranga Wāhine Tūranga Tāne (Gisborne Boys’ High the fund holder) and Te Kapa Haka o Tū Ki Uta  which comprises students from Te Wharekura o Manutūkē, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hawaiki Hou and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Horouta Wānanga. Trust Tairāwhiti will provide $30,000 towards their travel and accommodation.

An ongoing programme to deliver essential digital skills training to participants over 65 will receive a $40,000 funding boost.

TaiTech (the Tairāwhiti Technology Trust) has rolled out the pakeke digital support programme to 400 people in the region and demand continues to grow. The funding will go towards its pakeke classes and operational costs.

Tairāwhiti Multicultural Council (TMC) will receive $35,000 to support its annual events — such as the Festival of Lights - Diwali and the Colour Run For Diversity — and new multicultural hub facility which offers a range of services and programmes.

Other grant recipients are —

Gisborne Netball Centre (GNC): $12,000 to foster the growth of netball on the East Coast, and improve access to indoor facilities for Gisborne netball players. The distribution will support GNC’s NPEC Netball satellite roll out up the Coast, and contribute to Gisborne YMCA hireage costs for tournaments and indoor court usage.

Ngāti Porou Surf Life Saving: $10,000 towards costs for four Māori Ocean Wānanga. Its Ngāti Porou Eke Tangaroa project aims to mitigate the high incidence of drowning among Māori by implementing ocean safety programmes rooted in kaupapa Māori principles.

Ngāti Porou Ki Te Ao (fund holder Nōna Te Ao Trust): $10,000 towards in-region wānanga for rangatahi rugby league. This is part of the shared aim of Ngāti Porou Ki Te Ao and the Nōna Te Ao Trust to empower Tairāwhiti communities, nurture the talent and cultural identity of rangatahi, and support opportunities in rural areas.

Kaitipua Charitable Trust/Tūranga Strong: $9051 to support Tūranga Strong with equipment for its newly established and Weightlifting NZ-affiliated club, the only weightlifting club in Tairāwhiti.

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Taonga Tūturu Ki Tokomaru: $9000 towards domestic travel costs from Tokomaru to Auckland and kākahu as part of Te Haerenga ki Rarotonga, a relationship that was formed 30 years ago when the kura was first established and commemorates the opening of Te Hono ki Rarotonga, the wharenui at Pakirikiri Marae, Tokomaru Bay, 50 years ago.

Gisborne Rowing Club: $5000 towards its 150th anniversary, which is being held in Gisborne in late May and will bring 100 delegates and partners to the region. This will be followed by a whānau day for the community as part of the celebrations.

All projects and initiatives were assessed against Tairāwhiti Trust’s wellbeing framework, He Rangitapu He Tohu Ora, to ensure they will lead to meaningful outcomes for Tairāwhiti.

A new funding round is open. Go to trusttairawhiti.nz/apply-for-funding/