Trust Tairāwhiti approved funding for a range of community projects, events and initiatives in the first funding round for the year.
Gisborne Mountain Biking Club (GMBC) were the biggest recipient of community funding and will receive $50,000 for phase one of the Whataupoko Reserve trail upgrade, ensuring safe community access. Severe weather in early 2023 caused significant damage to the trail, with repairs requiring professional builders and machinery beyond volunteer capacity.
With around 30,000 users of Whataupoko Reserve annually, GMBC plans to restore and enhance the trails for riders of all levels. Regular volunteer maintenance and inspections will ensure the trails stay in top condition. The upgrades will improve safety and accessibility, foster community connection, and boost local economic activity through increased visitors.
Five talented kapa haka roopū have been selected to represent Tairāwhiti at the prestigious national kapa haka competition, Te Matatini. Waihīrere Māori Club, Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti, Te Hokowhitu a Tū, Tū Te Manawa Maurea and Hikurangi Pariha will each receive $15,000 for their wānanga preparation towards the competition. Preparations include intensive wānanga campaigns focused on waiata, kōrero tuku iho (stories of the past) and bracket refinement. Te Matatini will take place from 25 February – 1 March in Taranaki.
Other community grant recipients include:
- House of Science (HOS) - $20,000 to lease a vehicle for delivering bilingual science kits to local schools. This funding will also support HOS membership costs for schools facing financial barriers. Currently, the initiative benefits over 5,000 students across 20 schools in the region, with plans for further expansion this year.
- Tairāwhiti Community Voice (TCV) - $20,000 to establish a shared social services hub. For 35 years, TCV has connected local groups and services to support the community. Currently, TCV, Stroke NZ, and Brain Injury share office expenses while applying for funding separately. This grant will streamline their operations, reduce administrative costs, and create more space for meetings, workshops and services that have been limited by high costs.
- Gisborne Toy Library - $15,000 to hire more librarians to support the growing membership. The library, open nine hours per week, serves as a community hub, offering a wide range of toys for hire at affordable prices.
- Road Safety Education - $6,000 to support the Ryda programme aimed to help Tairāwhiti rangatahi improve their driving skills and decision-making.
- Dunblane Resthome - $4,910 towards a magic table that enhances the wellbeing of residents living with dementia. A magic table is an interactive touchscreen that projects light games onto a surface, encouraging hand and arm movements.
- Red Cross Curtain Bank Gisborne - $3,416 towards two industrial sewing machines and heating for volunteers refurbishing curtains for vulnerable households, especially those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. These curtains are distributed through agencies such as Tūranga Health, Ngāti Porou Hauora and the Salvation Army.
Regional Events funding recipient:
- The Chardonnay Affair: $5,000 towards marketing costs, promoting the event to attract visitors showcasing Gisborne as a top destination for wine lovers. This event supports the growth of the region’s wine industry, enhancing Gisborne’s identity as Aotearoa, New Zealand’s unofficial ‘wine capital.’
All applications align with the Trust’s wellbeing framework, He Rangitapu He Tohu Ora.