We enable the people of Tairāwhiti by grant funding initiatives and community facilities that contribute to positive wellbeing outcomes for the region.
We support community-led initiatives that strengthen wellbeing and help grow a sustainable economy across the Tairāwhiti region. Guided by He Rangitapu He Tohu Ora, our distribution funding focuses on initiatives that create lasting, positive outcomes for our people and place.
Since our inception, we have distributed more than $88.7m* to support projects that help communities flourish now and into the future.
We support priority community facility projects that promote wellbeing and are aligned with our wellbeing framework, He Rangitapu He Tohu Ora. Our focus is on facilities that bring people together and support healthy, connected communities across the Tairāwhiti region.
The Trust has committed to funding up to $15m, in principle, towards early win sports facility projects in Tairāwhiti.
The Communities Fund supports projects and initiatives that promote community wellbeing and sustainable economic development in Tairāwhiti. It is open to not-for-profit groups, registered charities and organisations delivering projects that will benefit our beneficiaries, the people of Tairāwhiti. All applications are assessed against the Trust’s wellbeing framework, He Rangitapu He Tohu Ora to ensure they will lead to meaningful outcomes for our communities.
To be successful, you’ll be able to describe the intended outcomes, local benefits and community involvement.
Before applying, ensure you thoroughly read the guidelines.
Due to high demand from the Communities Fund, this year's remaining funding pool is limited. While we will still consider applications, future distributions will be constrained until 5 February 2026. See FAQ: Why has the Community Funding been limited?
*(Correct as of 31 March 2025)
Find out about developing strong governance, financial literacy, connecting to funding opportunities in Aotearoa and measuring impact.
Stage one upgrades are nearly complete at Whataūpoko Reserve, improving the mountain bike trail network and supporting safer, year-round access for the community.
The Gisborne Mountain Bike Club…
Summer 2025/26 in Tairāwhiti will be bustling with community events across the region. From well-known community favourites to cultural experiences and summer activities with a competitive edge…
Mareikura Waka Ama Club officially opened their new waka storage facility, with paddlers, club members, supporters and whānau gathered to welcome the long-awaited milestone.
The day began at 5am…
In December, Trust Tairāwhiti approved $156k in the final funding round of the year.
Tūranga Health received the largest distribution this month with $50k to help deliver insulation upgrades for…
Mareikura Waka Ama Club members, past and present, will gather on Saturday 6 December to celebrate the opening of the club’s new waka storage facility at Anzac Park.
A dawn karakia will be held at…
Artists, storytellers, educators and historians have come together to create pieces for the Hohou te Rongo exhibition at Tairāwhiti Museum, sharing their perspectives on the 1865 battle of…
Gisborne’s festive spirit is back in full swing this December with the return of the Gizzy Christmas Parade followed by It’s a Gizzy Christmas community celebration at Marina Park.
The popular…
Trust Tairāwhiti has approved more than $250k in community funding this month, supporting 14 initiatives across the region.
Two major national events are the largest recipients this round, each…
Contractors have made strong progress over the past month on the final upgrades for stage one of the Victoria Domain project.
Over the recent school holidays, courts eight and nine were completed…
Sixteen students will spend their summer at the cutting edge of medical science through an internship programme with Mātai Medical Research Institute.
From November 2025 to February 2026, interns…
More than 100 whānau from across the motu came together in Manutūkē for Kura Reo ki Tūranga, a four-day wānanga dedicated to nurturing and strengthening te reo Māori, with a focus on the unique…
Trust Tairāwhiti approved grants for regional events and educational opportunities for Tairāwhiti locals in its latest funding round.
Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki Trust was the largest funding recipient…
Across Tairāwhiti, marae are embracing renewable energy, with 20 now equipped with solar systems, marking significant progress on the Marae Solar Project led by Trust Tairāwhiti.
The remaining two…
The Nest Collective distributes pēpi packs to families-in-need around New Zealand, full of essential items to support them with the first 1,000 days of their baby’s life.
Trust Tairāwhiti recently…
Bright lights, local artistic talent and kiwi music icons are bringing the region to life as Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival (TTAF) returns for its 2025 season.
Local favourite, Te Ara i Whiti, is…
Gisborne Volunteer Coastguard Association (GVCA) is set for a revamp with a $33k grant from Trust Tairāwhiti towards a new trailer. The upgrade means crews can hit the water faster and safer, saving…
Not-for-profit organisation Nōna Te Ao was created to support rangatahi māori to be self-determining, make informed decisions about their future, and thrive in their chosen pathways, while bridging…
Four schools along the East Coast have been equipped with solar panels, battery storage, and pool heating systems as part of a $3.5m school pool heating and resilience project funded by the Trust…
For over a decade, the Tairāwhiti Multicultural Council (TMC) has championed cultural diversity in the region, creating spaces where all cultures are welcomed and celebrated. Their annual events have…
More than $189k in funding was approved in the August funding round from Trust Tairāwhiti.
Tairāwhiti Technology Trust (TaiTech) were the largest funding recipient this month, receiving $50k from…
A crowd of keen netball players gathered at the gates of the newly upgraded Victoria Domain site on Saturday, 19 July, when Taharakau Stewart, representing Rongowhakaata, blessed the new and improved…
Rangatahi as young as eight years old have been using the ngahere (bush) as their classroom to learn practical bush and survival skills through camps hosted by The Bush Kura.
Trust Tairāwhiti…
Poverty Bay Kayak Club secured $66k in funding from Trust Tairāwhiti to restore and upgrade its clubhouse facility.
Since 1983, the club has nurtured paddlers of all levels across Tairāwhiti…
Over $271k in funding was approved by Trust Tairāwhiti in the July funding round, supporting ten community groups and organisations.
Nōna Te Ao Charitable Trust was the largest recipient this month…
Matariki is a time to reflect, connect and plan for the year ahead. Across Tairāwhiti, communities are coming together to mark the Māori New Year in ways that are meaningful to them. This year, Trust…
Ballet, tap, hip hop, modern, and contemporary dance lit up Gisborne’s War Memorial Theatre during the King’s Birthday weekend. Dancers from Tairāwhiti and across the North Island showcased their…
In the latest funding round, Trust Tairāwhiti approved grants for various initiatives that enhance community wellbeing, support rangatahi development and strengthen local resilience.
Te Hauora o…
Trust Tairāwhiti has approved a $23,500 grant to Music Education Tairāwhiti to support the delivery of its engagement programme connecting Tairāwhiti rangatahi with high-quality music…
In the latest Trust Tairāwhiti funding round, grants totalling $174,952 were approved, supporting eleven community organisations and groups across the region.
Tairāwhiti Multicultural Council will…
Trust Tairāwhiti has granted $172,640 over two years to SuperGrans Tairāwhiti Trust (SGT), enabling the organisation to strengthen its operational capacity and long-term sustainability.
This funding…
A new community-led laundromat is coming to Uawa, bringing long-awaited relief to locals who have been without access to a local laundry service for years.
Led by Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti Centre of…
Trust Tairāwhiti has approved just over $1.17 million in funding to Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union (PBRFU) towards the completion of the Rugby Park grandstand rebuild.
The rebuild will deliver a…
The MV Takitimu Charitable Trust will receive the largest distribution from the April funding round, with a grant of $21,356 to refurbish the hull of the MV Takitimu, Gisborne’s first pilot launch…
Rāngai Limited, a Gisborne-based production studio and education provider, launched four new bachelor-level pathways and a Trades Academy course last month, creating more opportunities for local…
For nearly seven years, Parafed Gisborne Tairāwhiti has been dedicated to expanding opportunities for those with physical disabilities in the region to participate in sports and recreation…
A major solar energy initiative is underway to build the resilience of 21 marae across Tairāwhiti, ensuring they can continue serving their communities during extreme weather events. Funded primarily…
From restoring sports facilities to exploring new economic opportunities, grants from the recent Trust Tairāwhiti funding round support a diverse range of community initiatives, projects and…
Te Matatini has been a beacon of haka excellence since 1972, bringing together the best of kapa haka from across Aotearoa. This year, Te Tairāwhiti will be proudly represented at Te Matatini by five…
Anzac Park will be a hive of activity in March when construction is set to commence on Mareikura Waka Ama Club’s new waka storage facility, bringing the long-awaited project to life in the club’s…
Tairāwhiti Community Voice (TCV) has spent 35 years advocating for locals by linking its members—grassroots organisations, community groups and social services—to ensure essential support is…
Te Wiki Hākinakina o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori (Wiki Hā) is a biennial event uniting kura kaupapa students nationwide to celebrate the blending of sport and te reo Māori. With $10,000 in funding from…
Trust Tairāwhiti has approved up to $6.9 million to fund phase one of the Victoria Sports and Recreation Hub in Gisborne, marking the largest single investment ever made by the Trust.
The funding…
Summer 2024-25 is shaping up to be a season packed with exciting events, from music festivals to marathons, tournaments and cultural events – there’s something for all to enjoy. Explore what’s…
Trust Tairāwhiti wraps up 2024 with over $99,000 in funding approved, supporting events and initiatives celebrating community, culture, and connection in Tairāwhiti.
Surf Lifesaving New Zealand was…
Paora Brooking has been the voice of Ngāti Porou East Coast (NPEC) rugby for years, delivering live commentary on Radio Ngāti Porou (RNP) and its Facebook page. His lively commentary and dedication…
A total of $105,000 was approved in the recent Trust Tairāwhiti funding round.
Outward Bound was one of the largest recipients from the Communites fund, receiving $15,000 to help 14 rangatahi from…
Katuku Island began as a concept for an indigenous apocalyptic mini-series but evolved into a groundbreaking educational tool that merges gaming with cultural storytelling. Created by educationalists…
Stroke Foundation New Zealand (SFNZ) is making a difference in the Tairāwhiti region, offering stroke prevention services and life-after-stroke support. Their focus on education and training within…
Elite Wool Industry Training (EWIT) recently hosted its first all-women shearing and wool handling course in Ngatapa, with support from Trust Tairāwhiti, Ovation, and the Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs…
Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union (PBRFU) will receive $73,706 in funding from Trust Tairāwhiti to install security fences at Gisborne’s Rugby Park. This funding will go towards the first stage of…
Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support provides free, 24/7 support services to help victims of traumatic events across Tairāwhiti and nationwide. Offering emotional support, practical help and guidance…
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…
Trust Tairāwhiti has approved a distribution of $68,500 to Rāngai Ltd to expand its tertiary education offerings, including bachelor degrees, for students in the region.
The funding will support…
For more than 35 years, the Trust Tairāwhiti Rescue Helicopter has been a vital lifeline for East Coast communities, from Mahanga Beach in the south to Te Kaha in the north and as far west as…
A new and exciting lineup has been announced for the Rā season of Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival (TTAF), which will run from 4 to 13 October.
Rutene Spooner will return to the festival with his show…
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…
An initiative led by Tairāwhiti Ngutukākā to restore and protect ngutukākā along the East Coast of Te Ika-a-Māui received $40,000 from Trust Tairāwhiti. The project aims to enhance the profile of…
Longbush Ecological Trust’s Seed Island project, aimed at transforming kānuka-mānuka scrubland into a diverse native forest, has received a $50,000 feasibility grant from Trust Tairāwhiti. The…
Tūranga Health’s vision of ‘building family wellness for future generations’ brings a unique approach to wellbeing.
The iwi health provider bridges health gaps for Māori in Tairāwhiti, focusing on…
Ngata Memorial College’s (NMC) freshly refurbished netball courts provide a versatile, all-weather space for sports, art and cultural activities in the heart of the East Coast, benefitting students…
Nōna Te Ao was created to address the trend of rural rangatahi Māori leaving school early without essential skills and qualifications.
Since starting five years ago in Tolaga Bay, Nōna Te Ao has…
Just over $74,000 in community grants were approved in the Trust Tairāwhiti July funding round to enhance education, sports and accessibility initiatives in our region. Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o…
To celebrate the rise of Matariki, local groups, schools and iwi across Tairāwhiti are bringing their communities together to celebrate the Māori New Year. Trust Tairāwhiti has approved $52,963 to…
More than $181,990 in community grants were approved in the Trust Tairāwhiti June funding round. These grants will support recovery initiatives, preserve cultural heritage and advance regional…
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…
Trust Tairāwhiti announces funding for major waka ama competition. One of the region’s biggest ever sporting competitions is happening this October, with the Tūranganui-a-Kiwa clubs of Te Uranga o Te…
More local rangatahi will gain tertiary scholarships and bring their expertise back to the region, as Rua Bioscience expands its highly successful Impact Programme in 2024.
Trust Tairāwhiti has approved $3.5 million in funding for a significant project that combines pool heating and renewable solar energy generation alongside battery storage at four schools on the East…
Trust Tairāwhiti, along with funding partners Te Whatu Ora and Eastern and Central Community Trust, has provided $242,696.75 in funding for community-led commemoration events and initiatives to mark…
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…
Community grants totalling just over $196,000 were approved in the latest funding round from Trust Tairāwhiti. The biggest recipients were Toitu Tairāwhiti and Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou, which each…
Five community initiatives were supported with distributions totalling $285,735 in the latest funding round from Trust Tairāwhiti. Matawai Memorial Hall Association was the biggest recipient…
Last year more than 3000 kids from around the region were able to grow their competency in the water thanks to the Swim for Life Tairāwhiti (SFLT) programme.
Huringa Pai Charitable Trust takes an inclusive, knowledge-based approach to healthy living, enabling their vision for whānau to live healthier and longer. It was founded in 2016 by Dr Willem…
The Gisborne Boardriders Club (GBC) East Coast surfing initiative is not just about catching waves but connecting whānau to the taiao and the moana through the shared experience of surfing. Last year…
The Gisborne Boardriders Club (GBC) East Coast surfing initiative is not just about catching waves but connecting whānau to the taiao and the moana through the shared experience of surfing. Last year…
Feasibility case funding for two significant regional economic initiatives was approved in the latest funding round from Trust Tairāwhiti.
Over $117,000 was awarded to four community groups in the latest funding round from Trust Tairāwhiti.
The Motu Trails Charitable Trust will receive $90,000 from Trust Tairāwhiti over three years to boost their marketing and promotions to attract more visitors to the region.
Four community groups were supported with grants totalling $178,000 in the latest distribution round from Trust Tairāwhiti.
Grants for home heating and insulation are available for eligible homeowners in the Tairāwhiti region.
In the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, 49 community groups in Tairāwhiti were supported with quick-turnaround grants to help their recovery efforts.
Over $530,000 was awarded to 12 community groups and initiatives in the final funding round for the year from Trust Tairāwhiti. The largest distribution of $280,000 was approved for Gisborne City…
An ancient line of living fossils will be able to continue thanks to the work of ecologist Steve Sawyer and the Whinray Ecological Charitable Trust. The Rhynchocephalian reptile – a spiritual tuatara…
It’s impressive when you crunch the numbers on the efforts of Gizzy Kai Rescue (GKR) but dig a little deeper to discover they have offset 137,939kgs of CO2 for the region, and their impact really…
When the weather is at its worst, it’s likely the Eastland Helicopter Rescue crew will get the call-up to help, but it is thanks to Trust Tairawhiti support over the last five years, that the region…
Last year the Trust announced it would fund up to $15m in principle towards ‘early win’ sports facility projects in Tairawhiti over the next five to 10 years. The investment will support a range of…
Rua Bioscience is inspiring the next generation of East Coast scientists, researchers, communicators and entrepreneurs through its internship and scholarship programmes. Chief executive Rob Mitchell…
Hospice Tairawhiti staff, patients and volunteers, are enjoying a far broader and more comfortable range of services since the opening of the new day services and administration building last year…
An initiative to provide surfing programmes in East Coast townships was one of the major recipients in the latest funding round from Trust Tairāwhiti.
Seven local community groups will benefit from grants totalling $59,500 in the latest funding round from Trust Tairāwhiti.
A not-for-profit, whānau housing initiative by Hikurangi Enterprises was the biggest recipient in the latest Trust Tairāwhiti funding round.
Over $120,000 was awarded to a diverse range of community projects and events in the latest funding round from Trust Tairāwhiti. The recipients demonstrated strong alignments with muka (outcomes) of…
Trust Tairāwhiti will fund up to $15 million towards "early win" sports facility projects, including waka storage facilities at Anzac and Marina Parks and the skatepark redevelopment.
Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti (SGT) was one of the major recipients in the latest Trust Tairāwhiti funding announcement, with $75,000 going towards a shared services pilot programme for up to 10 sporting…
From 3 June 2021
Ngati Porou East Coast Rugby was the winner on the day in the latest funding announcement by Trust Tairāwhiti with a decision to underwrite $50,000 towards a series of sporting events to be delivered…
Trust Tairāwhiti enables the delivery of waka ama school programme. Tairāwhiti turned on a perfect day for the interschool finals of Mareikura Waka Ama Club"s Kura Waka " a programme for rangatahi…
East Coast youth will reap the rewards of the latest funding decisions by Trust Tairāwhiti with Rua Bioscience receiving $50,000.
Trust Tairāwhiti has approved funding totalling $605,105 in the latest funding decisions of 2021 with distributions aligning with He Rangitapu, He Tohu Ora, the Trust's regional wellbeing framework.
While the emphasis is on participation, there's no denying the competition was fierce at Pa Wars 2021. The Ngati Porou inter-marae sports festival was bigger and better than ever this year, with 22…
SuperGrans Tairāwhiti is a not-for-profit organisation that is positively impacting our region.
Trust Tairāwhiti is proud to have supported Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival 2020.
General Manager Communities
Data and Information Lead
Community Development Administrator
Community Development Administrator
