Over $56,000 in community grants were approved in the latest Trust Tairāwhiti funding round.
The Gisborne Farmers Market was the biggest recipient, receiving $11,209.65 in funding for a new entertainment gazebo and one-year road closure fees. The market has served the community for fifteen years with fresh produce, locally-made food and entertainment on Saturday mornings. The gazebo provides a platform for local performers, to attract more visitors and benefit local vendors and businesses. Road closures around the event ensure a pedestrian-friendly environment and provide space for more vendors during the busy summer period.
Hikurangi Sports Club will receive $8,300 towards lighting for their home turf, Kahuitara sports ground in Whareponga. Since relocating to their home ground in 2019, the club has made several improvements, including refitting an old hay barn into a kitchen and changing room facility, field drainage, and concrete upgrades. The enhanced lighting will enable safe evening training and the potential for night games.
Mātai Medical Research Institute will receive $8,300 to support its summer leadership programme to foster future leaders' development in health science, computer science, medical, computational and engineering fields. Up to 16 undergraduate interns will work alongside experts on research projects tailored to their skills and knowledge. Priority will be given to undergraduates with a connection to Tairāwhiti.
Gisborne Alzheimers will also receive $8,300 to expand its support services to meet the needs of the growing number of dementia patients in Tairāwhiti. With 165 clients and over 600 enquiries annually, the funds will help staff create personalised care plans and provide better support for whānau caregivers.
Other recipients include:
- Gisborne Area Jumping and Showhunter Inc - $6,781.35 towards the Larsens Showjumping Championships event. This event attracts horse riders from all around the country and even a team from Australia for the highly contested Trans-Tasman challenge.
- Te Araroa and Districts Progressive Association Incorporated - $5,000 for a programme led by rangatahi, for rangatahi, that focuses on building capability in tikanga and kawa to apply in the marae.
- Tieki Taiao Wānanga - $5,000 for a four-day wānanga that brought expert knowledge into Te Tairāwhiti, highlighting taiao solutions. The wānanga brought together iwi, hapū, whānau and community to discuss and explore various aspects of the taiao. A group of taiao experts from the north, along with local experts, shared knowledge about the taiao through a Mātauranga Māori lens.
- Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti - $3,200 towards a koha for Gisborne-born Olympians to appear at an event at Ilminster Intermediate, celebrating local talent and allowing people to meet, greet and get inspired by their successes.
All successful funding applicants demonstrated outcomes that align with the Trust’s wellbeing framework, He Rangitapu He Tohu Ora.