$590,000 will be given to three charitable programmes
Bank of New Zealand Foundation (BNF Foundation) has announced in a press release that it will be granting a total of $590,000 to three selected projects as part of its first round of partnerships.
The three charitable programmes will be Revive Our Gulf, Waka Aronui, and a new partnership that aims to improve community resilience.
“After 18 months laying the groundwork for the foundation, we’re delighted to now be in the position to provide tangible support to projects that will make a significant, positive difference for New Zealand,” said Dan Huggins, BNZ Foundation chair.
“The organisations we are partnering with share our vision for a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Aotearoa and align with our funding mandate to make strategic investments in the areas of regenerating biodiversity and improving financial wellbeing.”
What are the projects all about?
Revive Our Gulf is a project spearheaded by the Mussel Reef Restoration Trust in collaboration with iwi and research partners. It is focused on restoring the Hauraki Gulf’s sediment kūtai reefs, which are important ecosystems that used to flourish in the region, by increasing biodiversity, enhancing water quality, and re-establishing natural habitats for marine life.
BNF Foundation will be giving Revive Our Gulf $450,000, which will be used for the development of a programme for monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on the gulf’s health as well as the effectiveness of the efforts for restoration.
Waka Aronui is a social car leasing programme that is headed by the Ākina Foundation and the Manukau Urban Māori Authority. It provides safe, affordable, and low-emissions vehicles to low-income whānau.
The $110,000 grant that the Waka Aronui programme will receive will be used to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study that will explore options to scale the programme to new regions all over New Zealand and the potential incorporation of new solutions such as vehicle sharing and e-bikes.
The Centre for Sustainable Finance: Toitū Tahua is set to establish a new partnership between corporates, iwi, and community organisations that will support more resilient communities. It is focused on fostering collaboration between corporates and community organisations as well as encouraging new practices, products, and services that will ensure that New Zealanders will always be able to access essential goods and services even if they face financial hardship. It will be receiving a $30,000 grant from BNZ Foundation.
“These partnerships reflect our commitment to impactful investment. It’s about taking a targeted approach, making every dollar count, and ensuring that our resources bring about substantial and lasting positive change for the country,” said Huggins.
“The investment decisions we make are deeply rooted in the principles of Kaitiakitanga and Manaakitanga, values that all our partners embody,” said John McCarthy, BNZ Foundation independent trustee. “We look forward to working closely with them and accelerating positive change for our communities.”
