After more than six years on the Taranaki Foundation board, Bryce Barnett has retired and moved into an ambassadorship role. But six years doesn’t quite capture it. Bryce has given far more than time. He has given energy, wisdom, and an unwavering commitment to the people and places that make Taranaki what it is. And behind every step of that journey has been Delwyn. In line with this milestone, it felt only fitting that we pause, reflect, and tell the story that sits behind the Bryce and Delwyn Barnett Fund.

 It Started at Home

For Bryce, generosity didn’t begin with wealth. It began at home.

He grew up watching his mother, Lois, quietly care for others. There was always room at the dinner table for one more. Help was given without expectation. Compassion was simply how things were done.

“She wasn’t wealthy,” Bryce reflects. “But she was generous.”

Delwyn grew up with that same quiet understanding. Her father was a gentle, principled man who held honesty as absolute. “If you take a pin, that is still stealing,” he would remind them as children. “He also told us not to say anything unless it passed through the three golden gates –  is it true, is it kind, is it necessary?”

“My mum was a very warm and loving person, and from her I learned the value of having a friendly and kind relationship with those around us,” Delwyn shares.

Those early lessons never left either of them. “I do see those traits in my children,” Delwyn says. “They are honest and relate well to people.”

Together, they have built a life centred on their five children and ten grandchildren, grounded in the belief that what we do today should strengthen the generation that follows. The Bryce and Delwyn Barnett Fund reflects that philosophy.

The Boy Who Wrote Overseas

Bryce’s entrepreneurial spirit showed early. At fourteen, he was collecting and selling Wood Ear Fungus after school. Before long, he had written overseas to secure his own buyers, cutting out the middleman entirely.

That same instinct shaped a remarkable career. He went on to spearhead what became New Zealand’s largest property syndication company and led the development of Waiwhakaiho’s Valley Mega Centre. In 2018, Bryce was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to governance and philanthropy.

But if you ask Bryce and Delwyn what matters most, the answer is always family.

When It Matters Most

In 2017, two of their children went through a life-changing kidney transplant, one donating to the other. In 2023, Bryce stepped down as Chair of Taranaki Foundation for ongoing health reasons.

In Bryce’s words, he is alive today because of a selfless gift from one human to another, the donation of a kidney and a liver. A reminder, perhaps the most profound one of all, that giving takes many forms.

These experiences deepened the family’s already strong commitment to health causes and reminded them of what truly matters.

       

Giving That Means Something

For Bryce and Delwyn, giving has always been practical and personal.

They have supported many aspects of current health system, helped local groups create safe spaces for children, funded Outward Bound experiences and scholarships, and quietly stepped in when someone needed a hand up.

They believe small acts can change the trajectory of a life. Sometimes that means filling supermarket trolleys for a cause. Sometimes it is backing a community group so they can keep going.  Sometimes it is simply showing someone they are worth believing in.

“The most dangerous thing in life is having good intentions,” Bryce says. “Because only 2% of them are ever done. But I’m one of those guys. If I have a dream or an intention, let’s do it now.”

 

Taranaki is Home

Bryce and Delwyn have long believed that if you can help, you should.

When the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust faced serious challenges, Bryce stepped in to stabilise and restructure the organisation, ensuring the service remained strong for the region.

He was also the driving force behind Destination Kāwaroa, transforming Kāwaroa Park into an inclusive play and learning space for all ages. Their generosity extends to outdoor education too, including a significant contribution to the new lodge at the Taranaki Outdoor Pursuits and Education Centre (TOPEC), a place where young people develop confidence, resilience, and lifelong connections through hands-on experiences.

For them, giving is not limited to supporting established causes. It also means backing visionary, community-wide projects that bring people together and shape the Taranaki their grandchildren will inherit.

What Legacy Looks Like

For Bryce and Delwyn, legacy looks like healthy kids, strong families, opportunities created, and seeds sown for the future.

Bryce admits he probably worked too hard at times. Now he finds joy in being present, especially with his grandchildren, and in directing his giving thoughtfully. The most important ingredient in life, he and Delwyn agree, is attitude. More important than intelligence or qualifications.

They have encouraged their children to follow their own paths, back themselves, and contribute when they can. Their giving works in the same way. Not as a handout, but as belief in potential.

Why Give Through Taranaki Foundation?

The Bryce and Delwyn Fund is a pass-through giving fund. Every dollar goes straight to the causes they care about today. They can see the impact of their giving in action, qualify for a tax credit, and respond quickly when local needs arise.

Importantly, the fund allows them to involve their children and grandchildren in decisions about giving, ensuring their generosity carries on well beyond their own lifetimes.

“Giving should be enjoyable,” Bryce says. “It should feel purposeful.”

Through Taranaki Foundation, the values shaped in their family homes and carried for a lifetime continue to ripple out across Taranaki, strengthening families, supporting health, and investing in generations to come.

Bryce and Delwyn, thank you for everything you have given to our community. We are incredibly lucky to have you both.

(And we couldn’t end this piece without sharing these two images – some things just speak for themselves).