Bashford-Nicholls Trust Fund

For more than 60 years, The Bashford-Nicholls Trust, has supported agricultural learning.

The Bashford-Nicholls Fund originates from the Bashford-Nicholls Trust, a long-establsihed charitable trust foundded from the estates of two South Taranaki farmers,  Claude William Nicholls and James Dawson Bashford. Born in 1880 and living just 5 kilometres apart, they each formed trusts so their farms would continue to benefit future generations. Their vision was to invest in the next wave of agricultural and veterinary leaders and innovators.

Over the decades, their legacies evolved. Under the stewardship of The Bishop’s Action Foundation (BAF), the two trusts were merged and BAF expanded the scholarships and created innovative awards.

Today, the trust distributes around $300,000 annually, supporting vocational, undergraduate, postgraduate, and innovation pathways, helping thousands of young people advance careers in agriculture and veterinary science.

In 2025, the trust partnered with Taranaki Foundation, honouring the original intent of the trust while strengthening it for today and for generations to come through active regional storytelling and donor engagement, backed up by local investment management.

The Bashford-Nicholls Fund represents a legacy investment in education and rural development, now stewarded by Taranaki Foundation to ensure ongoing impact for the Taranaki community while maintaining its original mission of supporting agricultural and veterinary excellence.

Click the video below to learn more about this partnership in action.

Featuring Simon Cayley from the Bishop’s Action Foundation and the Bashford-Nicholls Trust, alongside our Taranaki Foundation CE Josh Hickford.  They speak to the new partnership between BNT and Taranaki Foundation, what it means for both organisations and the ongoing positive impact they hope it creates for our region.