Destination Play at Kāwaroa is an iniative by the Taranaki Foundation, in partnership with Ngāti Te Whiti, New Plymouth District Council and NP Partners. It will be created and completed next year and is designed to be a legacy for future generations.

The just-launched community fundraising campaign aims to get the Taranaki community involved to raise $1 million to bring this tranformative community project fully to life and to ensure this visionary play space opens as planned, on schedule and within budget.

Taranaki Foundation Chief Executive Josh Hickford said fundraising is well underway and he is both humbled and excited by the community’s response.

“Since the public launch of Destination Play at Kāwaroa in July, we have been overwhelmed by the excitement and feedback from those in the community who have expressed their support. People want to contribute to something that will have lasting benefit for the region,” he said.

Other parts of the wider fundraising push have already been in motion for some time. To date, Destination Play at Kāwaroa has secured 80% (approximately $4.5M) of committed funding for the estimated project cost. This funding is made up of $700,000 from Taranaki Foundation donors; $1m from Toi Foundation; $600,000 from New Plymouth District Council, which has also applied for $1m Better Off Funding; $400,000 from New Zealand Community Trust; $250,000 NP Partner contributions and the balance from in materials and in-kind support.

“There has been amazing support and significant funding and donations received from philanthropic donors, organisations, individuals, sponsors and contributors alike to which we are very thankful. Our passionate Taranaki community have made it clear they want this to be a community-powered and delivered project we can all be proud of” says Josh.

In this next phase of fundraising, we are encouraging anyone and everyone to get involved by contributing whatever you can. As a community, we will make this happen. If you want to Join the Play and find out more, jump on to our website to donate- or we can come and chat to you.

  • Find out more and contribute to Destination Play here
  • Watch this Video clip celebrating the new launch of the community fundraising campaign here
  • Read the front-page Taranaki Daily News project update here

Photo credit: Andy Macdonald/Stuff 

Pictured: Taranaki Foundation chair Bryce Barnett, centre. Partners, from left, New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom, NPDC planning and design lead Renee Davis, Ngāti te Whiti hapu chair Julie Healey, Jen Blyde of New Zealand Community Trust, Toi Foundation chief executive Maria Ramsay, Taranaki Foundation chief executive Josh Hickford, NP Partners lead John Leuthart, and Taranaki Foundation community engagement manager Theresa Cayley.