Proposed Tararua community foundation seen as funding opportunity

Mark Maxwell, Tararua District Council communications and economic development manager, speaks at a Gallery of History meeting. Photo / Christine McKay

Mark Maxwell is passionate about improving communities and he's proposing to establish a community foundation in Tararua to provide philanthropic funding for projects.

"This is the concept I have for organisations in our district because it's going to become harder and harder to attract community funding," he said. "If we could bring in $20 million in 20 years into Tararua, it could create jobs and would be good for our community."

Maxwell, the Tararua District Council's communications and economic development manager, said at a Gallery of History meeting recently charitable trusts were something that excited him.

"In my previous role with the Public Trust we pulled $300 million of charitable trusts together and grew them to $400m and had great outcomes," he said.

"After Thomas Macarthy, a brewer in Wellington, died, a charitable trust he set up began with £400,000."

Macarthy died in Wellington on August 19, 1912, and his charitable trust distributed an average of just under £10,000 a year in its first 20 years. By 1989 more than $10m had been distributed.

Setting up a philanthropic community trust was a great idea for people who wanted to leave a lasting legacy, Maxwell said.

"I would like to get into this for Tararua," he said.

"Let's keep our own identity and make sure the money is spent in this district.

"I have lots of ideas, but one of the key things is an organisation like the Gallery of History could set up their own fund and build on endowments."

Those attending the Gallery of History meeting were enthusiastic about the community foundation proposal and Tararua District Council's chief executive Blair King told councillors there could be an opportunity for an investment fund, set up as a community trust.