Our Stories

For Hāwera Riding for the Disabled, the horses are only part of the story. For some of the people who come through its gates, the weekly sessions can build confidence and give them a reason to be somewhere they feel comfortable. A gift in a Will could help make sure that opportunity continues.

Most people know they should have an up-to-date Will. They know it matters. They just keep thinking they will get around to it one day. That was the experience of Loren Anderson and Joel Zimmerman too.

For the past five years, Grant Carter has seen first-hand how generosity can make a difference to the Taranaki community. Now, he is putting that belief into practice by leaving a gift in his own Will.

Taranaki Foundation has completed its first full year of managing the George Mason Charitable Trust Endowment Fund.

Seven schools across Taranaki have received funding through the Methanex STEM Learning Fund, chosen from dozens of applications from across the region.

Last year, the Bashford-Nicholls Trust transferred $14 million in assets to Taranaki Foundation, marking the largest single transfer of trust assets in New Zealand's community foundation network.

The 2026 Taranaki Foundation Emergence Art Awards, now on at Stratford's Percy Thomson Gallery, have seen 18 talented young local artists recognised, with two People's Choice awards still to be decided.

Welcoming Mary Bouke and Hannah Middleton as new trustees, bringing fresh perspectives, deep community roots and a shared commitment to helping Taranaki thrive.

Recently a few of us from Taranaki Foundation spent a Wednesday morning at the Waitara Food Bank, helping where we could and getting a real sense of their mahi from the inside. This is what we discovered.

A new community fund has been established through Taranaki Foundation to support Age Concern Taranaki, the region's frontline organisation responding to elder abuse, loneliness and social isolation among older people.

Bruce has never been one for recognition. He gives because he believes that if you have the means to help, you should.

A legacy of love, for family and community.

With Bryce Barnett retiring from the Taranaki Foundation board and moving into an ambassadorship role, it felt only fitting to pause, reflect, and share the story behind the Bryce and Delwyn Barnett Fund.

For more than 100 years, The Rotary Club of Hāwera members raised money, rolled up their sleeves and showed up for their community in ways large and small, meeting needs as they arose.

Backing Taranaki people and causes that matter is what drew Energy City Ford to become an Operational Supporter of Taranaki Foundation.

George Mason Charitable Trust invests $200,000 in the TOPEC Lodge build, securing the final funding needed to bring Taranaki’s beloved outdoor education centre’s new lodge to life.

Inside Te Whare o Tapatahi and the YMCA Taranaki community, quietly changing lives in Taranaki.

Taranaki Foundation is calling for Expressions of Interest for two Trustee vacancies.

In 2025, Taranaki Foundation invested nearly $140,000 into South Taranaki projects, scholarships, and community groups, making a real difference locally.

On 2 February, three fifth-year medical students, Emily Dennis, Samantha Watson and Lucy McKay arrived in Hāwera to begin their year-long placement at Hāwera Hospital through the Rural Medical Immersion Programme (RMIP).

At Taranaki Foundation, we believe in the power of people and potential. Scholarships are one of the most tangible ways our community invests in the next generation. They support dreams, recognise achievement, and create a lasting legacy.

The Taranaki Outdoor Pursuits and Education Centre (TOPEC) has received a substantial contribution from the Barnett Family, helping to bring the new TOPEC Lodge closer to reality.

Taranaki Foundation announces the allocation of $263,433 in grants to 71 organisations and individuals across the region through its 2025 funding round.

Bashford-Nicholls Trust worth $14 million is poised to more than double the Taranaki Foundation’s investment resources. A partnership that could have a profound impact on the Taranaki Region.

With demand for its programmes rising, TOPEC is planning a new community lodge: a modern, sustainable facility built for the needs of the next generation.

Ten years on, Taranaki Foundation has much to celebrate and even more to look forward to. What began as a bold local idea has grown into a lasting movement of generosity, connection and impact across our region.

Richard Tait is leaving 40% of his estate to Taranaki Foundation to fund a scholarship for Rainbow youth in science, a legacy of inclusion, opportunity, and connection to Taranaki that will thrive for generations.

We’re proud to welcome three familiar faces into new roles as Taranaki Foundation Ambassadors.

Jenny Hayes-Arnold was a tireless advocate for inclusion in Taranaki. When she passed in 2004, her legacy lived on through the Kindred Trust, which she established shortly before her death. Today, her vision of equality and belonging is honoured through Destination Kāwaroa.

Maree and Brent Schumacher created their Named Fund to give back to the community they love and to help ensure a strong, lasting legacy for Taranaki.

Seven months in, the three medical students participating in the Rural Medical Immersion Programme at Hāwera Hospital have become an integral part of the South Taranaki community, both inside and outside the hospital.

September is Wills Month in New Zealand, which can be used as a time to pause and ask yourself a surprisingly uplifting question: What do I want to be remembered for?

Every organisation needs a backbone. For us, that backbone is our Operational Supporters. They believe in what we’re building together in Taranaki, and they help keep the engine running so we can continue making a difference.

With a strong belief in community and the long-term impact of philanthropy, Connect Legal Taranaki has helped clients think about how their legacy can continue to make a difference well into the future.

After nearly five years of collaboration and community effort, Destination Kāwaroa is now complete.

Youth Boost is now our largest grant programme by volume, with around 50 small grants awarded each year to support rangatahi across Taranaki.

Here at Taranaki Foundation, we are on an ambitious mission to nurture and build the prosperity of our region, and we are looking for two passionate locals to join our busy team.

The 2024-25 financial year has been one of growth, generosity, and meaningful impact. We’re proud to share how, together, we’re making a real difference in Taranaki.

The Shepherd Barrack Fund was set up by donors who care deeply about protecting Taranaki’s environment.

Now in the fourth year of our partnership - Taranaki Foundation proudly acknowledges Shining Peak Brewing for their ongoing commitment as an Operational Supporter.

After facing terminal cancer diagnoses for both her husband and herself, Taranaki teacher Karen Morine chose hope, creating the Daphne Cancer Care Fund through the Taranaki Foundation to support others on similar journeys.

Introducing four new members of the Taranaki Foundation Distribution Committee: Callum Williamson, Jane James, Angela Kerehoma, and Jacq Dwyer.

Taranaki Foundation is proud to announce the 2025 recipients of the Cliff Perrett Memorial Fund Scholarship: Katie Bestall from South Taranaki and Toni Bernet from North Taranaki.

The Dot and Bill Spence Fund has been established through Taranaki Foundation to honour the memory of Bill (Noel) George Spence and his beloved wife, Dot (Dorothy).

Port Taranaki joins a growing group of forward-thinking local organisations helping to ensure a thriving Taranaki for generations to come.

In September 2024, the Noel Yarrow Puke Ariki Trust was transferred to Taranaki Foundation.

Taranaki Foundation is proud to announce that Destination Kāwaroa is now fully funded.

Steve ‘Coach’ McKean wasn't just a larger-than-life figure in Taranaki; he was a force. This past month has been a testament to his enduring legacy, with three community sporting events held in his honour.

Taranaki Foundation is proud to celebrate the establishment of a new fund following a transfer from the George Mason Charitable Trust (GMCT).

For over six years, Nagel, a trusted structural engineering consultancy based in New Plymouth, has been a valued operational partner of Taranaki Foundation.