Over $170,000 in community grants have been approved by Trust Tairāwhiti in its latest funding round. Cultural, sporting and tech initiatives across Gisborne and the East Coast feature on the list of recipients.
Two exceptional kapa haka roopu from Tairāwhiti have been selected to participate at the national secondary schools kapa haka competition, and Trust Tairāwhiti will provide $30,000 towards their travel and accommodation.
Te Whakataetae - Nga Kapa Haka Tuarua o Aotearoa is being held in Nelson in late June. The two kapa from Tairāwhiti will take to the stage to celebrate the cultural enrichment, performance artistry, personal development and community pride that stems from their involvement.
The grant recipient is Gisborne Boys’ High School as the fund holder, on behalf of Turanga Wahine Turanga Tane Kapa Haka and Te Kapa Haka o Tu Ki Uta (a kapa including Te Wharekura o Manutuke, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hawaiki Hou and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Horouta Wananga)
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 their Pakeke classes and operational costs.
The Tairāwhiti Multicultural Council (TMC) will receive $35,000 to support their annual events and new multicultural hub facility.
Each year they organise a range of events and initiatives aimed at promoting integration and inclusivity, such as Festival of Lights – Diwali, the Colour Run for Diversity and Inclusion, and regular international food festivals. The TMC are now establishing a multicultural hub to offer a range of services and programmes for both newcomers to our region and the wider community.
Other grant recipients include:
- 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. This 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.
- Ngati Porou Surf Life Saving – $10,000 towards costs for four Māori Ocean Wānanga. Their Ngati Porou Eke Tangaroa project aims to mitigate the high incidence of drowning among Māori, by implementing ocean safety programmes rooted in kaupapa Māori principles.
- Ngati Porou Ki Te Ao (F/H Nōna Te Ao) – $10,000 towards in region wānanga for rangatahi rugby league. This is part of the shared aim of Ngāti Porou Ki Te Ao and 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/Turanga Strong – $9,051 to support Turanga Strong with equipment for their newly established weightlifting club. This is the only weightlifting club in Tairāwhiti, and is affiliated to Weightlifting NZ.
- Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Taonga Tūturu Ki Tokomaru – $9,000 towards domestic travel costs from Tokomaru to Auckland and kakahu, 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 – $5,000 towards their 150th AGM, which is being held in Gisborne in late May and will bring 100 delegates and their partners to the region. This will be followed by a whānau day for the community as part of their anniversary celebrations.
All projects and initiatives were assessed against the 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 now