Mazda adds some zoom-zoom

Mazda 6. Photo / Supplied

A group from the Heart for Youth Trust, which aims to teach youth and young adults life skills and was a grant recipient this year.Foundation helps fund projects nationally

The Mazda Foundation has donated more than $51,000 to 20 individuals and groups nationally as part of its final round of funding for 2013.

Each year, the foundation holds three funding rounds and selects individuals, community groups and charities in need of support.

Among those granted much-needed funding was the Boyle Village Conservation Group, which received $3000 to purchase 20 new predator traps for the local area.

Situated near Christchurch, at the intersection of the Boyle River, the small village comprises about 20 homes. The conservation group was set up by residents who wanted to protect the native bird population.

It is aiming to set predator traps in the nearby forested landscape in an effort to reduce the impact stoats, possums and other predators have on the local birdlife.

The specially designed New Zealand traps are self-resetting and can kill up to 12 possums and 24 stoats before having to be reloaded - therefore requiring less maintenance.

"The generous grant from the Mazda Foundation will allow us to make such a difference to the local area," says co-ordinator Aaron Penman.

"The local birdlife is vitally important to this area. We have a lot of New Zealand native and endangered birds living around the village that provide us with beautiful birdsong. The landowners in the village are really passionate about safeguarding our native birdlife for generations to come."

Another charity to receive support in this round of funding is Heart for Youth Trust, an Auckland-based charitable trust that aims to teach youth and young adults life skills, self-esteem and encourage personal growth.

As part of what they do, the trust takes groups of young people away on a "Kiwi camping" holiday experience which focuses on outdoor pursuits such as bush walking and tramping.

The foundation grant will allow the trust to purchase a equipment for their trips.

"The foundation's grant will enable the trust to purchase a much-needed trailer. It will be extremely useful as it will mean we no longer have to hire additional vehicles to transport the equipment which is costly," says founding director Ross McCook.

"The trust only launched 12 months ago and, in this short space of time, we have already witnessed the great benefits that our Kiwi camps provide to the youth who attend. We hope to have the trailer up and running in time for our Christmas and New Year camps."

Foundation chairman Andrew Clearwater says it is delighted to be able to assist with such a wide variety of projects across New Zealand.

"The Mazda Foundation is grateful to be in a position to provide support to so many worthwhile causes from all across the country. We receive a large number of applications each round from so many inspirational Kiwis doing fantastic work within their communities; it makes the judging process incredibly difficult.

"Whether it's safeguarding our valuable native wildlife or equipping our youth with the valuable life skills they need to grow into well-rounded adults, it's always humbling to see just how much good work goes on across the country."

The foundation has now distributed more than $1.5 million to 410 recipients since its establishment in 2005. The foundation is funded through a contribution from the sale of every new Mazda locally.

The closing date for the next round of foundation applications is March 31, 2014.