Over $897,000 in community grants were approved in the final funding round of the year from Trust Tairāwhiti.
The biggest recipient was Gisborne Speedway Club, which will receive up to $267,000
towards a new toilet block at the raceway.
Approximately 40,000 attendees pass through the gates over a speedway season, including 6500 visitors from out of town. With improved public toilets, the facility can be used more by other community groups, as well as the regular speedway events.
The club has covered about 50 per cent of the costs of the toilet block.
An initiative to establish a new Manutuke Hapori Hub will receive up to $246,850.
A 305m square building will be relocated to the Manutuke Community Club property on Whakato Road, replacing two buildings that are no longer fit for purpose.
The intent is to create a community space to hold events, activities and provide services to support the overall wellbeing and resilience of whanau, hapu, iwi and the wider Manutuke community, particularly in civil emergency situations.
Ngata Memorial College will receive up to $164,000 to complete upgrades and resurfacing of their netball/tennis and basketball courts. The college caters to primary, intermediate, and secondary school students from the catchment area between Tokomaru Bay and Potaka.
The court facilities are also regularly used by the wider community, including the annual Pa Wars, Future Ferns, Marae Netball, and art exhibitions.
Eastwoodhill Trust will receive $72,800 to develop a new interpretative and cultural tour to share the narrative of mana whenua Te Whānau a Kai. The tour will provide authentic engagement and share a deeper understanding of the history and cultural significance of the site using wireless headsets.
Other initiatives supported this month were:
- Gizzy RC Club Manutuke - $57,000 to support site earthworks, equipment, irrigation and drainage for the national standard remote control car track facility.
- Brain Injury Association Gisborne - $10,000 to continue advocating for those with brain injuries in Tairāwhiti.
- Kaitipua Charitable Trust - $15,000 towards fitting out a container with exercise equipment for community fitness classes held at Patutahi.
- Stroke Foundation of NZ - $10,000 towards providing ongoing, free support to stroke survivors and their whānau in Tairāwhiti, as well as providing education on stroke prevention and awareness.
- Salvation Army NZ – $10,000 to support coordination and distribution of basic resources to vulnerable communities, particularly on the East Coast.
- House of Science - $35,000 towards the costs of resource kits for primary and intermediate schools in Tairāwhiti.
- Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou - $10,000 towards the Ngāti Porou Pa Wars and the dawn ceremony at Hikurangi.
All projects and initiatives supported were assessed against the Trust’s wellbeing framework He Rangitapu He Tohu Ora to ensure they will lead to meaningful outcomes for Tairāwhiti.
Trust funding rounds will reopen in January 2024.