Over $450k of NZ Community Trust grants awarded to Whanganui groups

Sarjeant Gallery Trust chairwoman Nicola Williams, seen here with trustee and former minister Chris Finlayson, says the funding will be a welcome support to the project. Photo / NZME

Whanganui organisations and community groups have received hundreds of thousands in funding from the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) this month.

The September grants, funded through the NZCT, come from net proceeds from gambling machines operated by the trust.

The NZCT operates gambling machines at six Whanganui bars and restaurants.

The net proceeds from those machines are redistributed to the community, focusing on charitable, philanthropic, cultural or sporting causes.

In Whanganui this month, more than $450,000 in grants were given out - the most significant of which went to the Sarjeant Gallery redevelopment project.

The project received $150,000 - one of the largest single grants awarded by the NZCT in the region in recent years.

Sarjeant Gallery Trust chairwoman Nicola Williams said for the project to go ahead, it needed wide financial backing.

"The community trust was always on our radar as a possible funder, so it's great to see that become a reality.

"The trust has relied on funding from a variety of avenues - charitable trusts, philanthropists and members of the community both locally and nationally. People have been very generous."

Sarjeant Gallery Trust chairwoman Nicola Williams, seen here with trustee and former minister Chris Finlayson, says the funding will be a welcome support to the project. Photo / NZME

Williams said the redevelopment of the gallery will be significant not only for the Whanganui community spirit, but also tourism within the region.

Several sporting groups and organisations were other recipients of NZCT funding.

The Whanganui Boys and Girls Gym Club Trust received $96,304 to put towards salaries for three staff, while the Whanganui Cricket Association received $80,000 to put towards renovations on the group's artificial pitches.

The Gonville-Castlecliff Bowling Club was granted $13,843 for equipment and a greenkeeper's salary, and Netball Whanganui received $9485 for player uniforms and equipment.

The Whanganui Surf Lifeguard Service received just shy of $35,000 for additional equipment, while the Whanganui Boxing Association was granted $26,500 for travel and accommodation costs.

The Whanganui Pirates Rugby Football club was granted $10,000 for uniforms and equipment, while Riding for the Disabled Whanganui was given $50,000 to cover a salary.