Rotorua's 10 largest charities, in terms of donations received, earned almost $2 million last year in donations from the public.
A recent report released by the New Zealand Charities Commission revealed six of the top 10 charity earners in the city were churches or religious-based organisations, who between them earned $1.32 million in the last financial year.
However, Rotorua's largest charity is the Ngati Whakaue Education Endowment Trust.
The trust registered more than $57 million in assets and income with the Charities Commission for the last financial year.
Chairman Malcolm Short told The Daily Post the trust was currently dishing out more than $1 million a year through three types of grants aimed at improving Rotorua people's access to education. They are grants to tertiary institutions - including apprenticeship schemes, project grants - usually for community or education groups - and discretionary grants for individuals.
"Anybody can apply for these. People usually do it through their educational establishment."
The trust took over responsibility of allocating funds from the Rotorua High School Board as part of the 1993 Ngati Whakaue agreement with the Crown.
"Now we not only provide the funding, we can also dispense it."
Mr Short said much of that funding came through income from property in the central business district and from other investments.
He said the trust had been increasing the amount available to distribute by an average of 6 per cent a year since 1996.
Mr Short said education was the key to improving skill and pay levels among Rotorua employees and the trust was pleased to play a significant role in achieving this.
Rotorua's largest charity, in terms of donations received, was the Living Well Church Charitable Trust, which received $559,390 worth of donations in the last financial year.
Church administrator Gary Ellis said most of the money was spent on the day-to-day operation of the church in paying wages and bills and was donated by its congregation. "We put aside 10 per cent of that for our overseas missions ... to places like Africa, Indonesia and Thailand.
"Last year, we also supported Chapman College being set up at the back of our church."
Mr Ellis said the church believed in tithing its members, however it was not compulsory.
-----------
ROTORUA CHARITIES
Rotorua has 364 registered charities.
Six of the 10 largest charities by value of donations are associated with religious groups.
More than a quarter of Rotorua's charities are involved in education training or research.
One fifth are involved in religious activities, 15 per cent work in the area of arts, culture and heritage and 12 per cent assist with social services.
26 per cent help children and young people.
13 per cent work with family and whanau groups.
Charities average three full-time employees, one part-time employee and seven volunteers.
A total of 896 people are employed by charities in Rotorua.
They rely on 1674 volunteers.
Five largest charities in Rotorua by income and assets
- Ngati Whakaue Education Endowment Trust - $57,149,962.
- Te Puia - $40,780,000.
- Te Arawa Fisheries Holding Company Ltd - $23,881,000.
- Tuhoe Fisheries Charitable Trust - $18,686,257.
- Tuhoe Fish Quota Ltd - -$18,059,578
Five largest charities in Rotorua by donations/koha
- Living Well Church Charitable Trust - $559,390.
- Rotorua Baptist Church - $247,141.
- Rotorua Bible Baptist Church - $154,438.
- The Rotorua Branch of the Royal New Zealand Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Incorp - $145,648.
- Rotorua Lakeside Concert Charitable Trust -$145,000.
-------------