More than $42,000 in funding for community initiatives and regional events was approved in the latest Trust Tairāwhiti funding round.
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Waiū o Ngāti Porou will receive $10,000 from the Communities Fund to support their students’ participation in Te Wiki Hākinakina o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori (Wiki Hā), a biennial, fully immersive Te Reo Māori event celebrating traditional Māori sports like Kīorahi and Hopu Te Ariki.
Wiki Hā fosters a deeper connection to kaupapa Māori, physical health and wellbeing among rangatahi Māori. Through the event, training sessions, and 16 supporting wānanga, students will enhance their Te Reo Tākaro (sports vocabulary) and strengthen their proficiency in Te Reo Māori. A digital glossary will also be created as a learning resource.
Radio Ngāti Porou received a $5,000 grant from the Communities Fund to livestream the Heartland Rugby Championship games. Throughout the championship, tribal teams Ngāti Porou East Coast (NPEC) Kaupoi and Hamoterangi battle it out against other unions for the top honours of this competition. These broadcasts enable pakeke and NPEC supporters living abroad to enjoy the matches, complete with Paora Brooking’s entertaining commentary.
The Longline Classic festival will receive $15,000 from the Regional Event Fund (REF) for additional support ahead of the Labour weekend event. Longline Classic attracts significant visitor numbers to Gisborne, enhancing the local tourism sector and regional economy. This year’s headlining performers are Tiki Taane, Che Fu and Messie.
The First Light Wine and Food Festival will receive $12,250 from the REF for a marketing campaign to boost ticket sales. Held at TW Wines, the event highlights local winegrowers and promotes the region as New Zealand’s unofficial Chardonnay capital.
All applications aligned strongly with the Trust’s wellbeing framework, He Rangitapu He Tohu Ora.
The Communities Fund supports projects and initiatives that promote community wellbeing and sustainable economic development in Tairāwhiti. Here's more information on the Communities Fund:
The Regional Events Fund is to help attract and support events that promote Tairāwhiti as a visitor destination. Here's more information on the Regional Event Fund: