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Our Stories

Taranaki Foundation connects generous people and organisations to activities that nurture and build the prosperity of our region through community giving, partnerships and philanthropy.

Read our latest inspiring stories.

The gift of trees

We are excited that we have teamed up with Trees that Count to plant native trees that were gifted as part of the Forest of Generosity initiative.

Community Foundations – the new way of thinking about charity and estate planning

We are honoured to work with Bruce Carter, who wanted to make a lasting contribution for his community.

Empowering and enhancing the lives of people living with disability

It takes only one person to make a difference in a person's life.

Congratulations to Sam Harvie, Ohangai Centennial Teaching Scholarship recipient

We are proud to announce that Sam Harvie is the most recent recipient of the Ohangai Centennial Teaching Scholarship.

Congratulations to our 2021 Rudi Milesi Scholarship Recipients!

We are proud to announce that Hawera High School students Madeline Pick and Noah Fortuin have been selected as the recipients of the Rudi Milesi Scholarship.

Craigs Investment Partners generous Christmas giving

Taranaki Foundation is proud to once again work with the awesome team at Craigs Investment Partners to distribute early Christmas gifts to chosen community causes.

2021 Taranaki Foundation Grant Recipients

This month over $104,000 was granted to Taranaki community groups from Taranaki Foundation’s 2021 Distributions.

Bruce Carter Fund

This fund was established in 2021 to continue to support the causes and charities he is passionate about in a strategic and meaningful way.

Taranaki Foundation welcomes new fund to benefit Taranaki children

Help a Taranaki Child Trust recently transferred their assets to Taranaki Foundation to safeguard and grow.

An intergenerational family legacy lives on for Taranaki

Vicki and John Haylock made the generous decision to leave a legacy when their Uncle Basil left an inheritance for them.

Cliff Perrett Memorial Trust Fund

The Cliff Perrett Trust has assisted local students with scholarships since 2006. To honour its intentions, Taranaki Foundation will continue to administer these annual scholarships which endeavour to be to assist two students each year (one for South Taranaki and one from North Taranaki).

The Power of Endowment: An Enduring Legacy

Celebrating the growth of Taranaki Foundation’s first donor fund

Foundation welcomes three new trustees

New Trustees bring experience, passion and new perspectives to the Taranaki Foundation Board

September is Wills Month!

Having a will gives you peace of mind that you have made the best provision possible for the people and causes you care about.

The Harvey Symes Fund  

Passionate about farming and rugby and with a strong ethos for giving back, the Harvey Symes Trust was established in 1981 to support charities in South Taranaki and Patea in particular. In July 2021 the Harvey Symes Fund was transferred to the Taranaki Foundation for management.

The Rudi Milesi Fund

In June 2021 the Rudi Milesi Estate was transferred to the Taranaki Foundation to provide scholarship assistance for the education and development of young people from South Taranaki in the fields of dramatic theatre and veterinary science.

Taranaki Foundation named as a MediaWorks Foundation charity partner

Taranaki Foundation is delighted to announce this new partnership which will create numerous opportunities to raise awareness of the work we do through multiple media channels and to reach a broad audience.

Taranaki Foundation 2020 Grant Recipients

Twenty-five Taranaki charities or community groups received a well-deserved funding boost from Taranaki Foundation’s 2020 Distributions. (1 April 2020 – 31 March 2021)

Hinton Family Investment Fund

Robyn and Phil Hinton believe that through investing in Taranaki’s future through the Foundation, there is a real potential to enhance, change and foster the things that make a difference to everybody that lives here.

Craigs Investment Partners generous workplace giving

On behalf of the Craigs New Plymouth branch Giving Committee, the Foundation is pleased to distribute $5,500 to the Taranaki community organisations: Taranaki Health Foundation, Taranaki Retreat, Little Fighters Charitable Trust and New Plymouth Riding for the Disabled.

Community Foundation Announces New Name, Logo and Brand

Your Foundation has a new name and brand identity that emphasizes its mission to be a renowned foundation for giving that provides an inter-generational legacy for the Taranaki community.

Energy City Ford sponsor car for Taranaki Foundation

The Taranaki Foundation is fortunate to have generous support from our funders, sponsors, organisations, individuals and donors investing their time, resources or expertise, they enable us to grow our reach and to build a prosperous Taranaki for all.

Is the glass half empty or half full?

On Friday 30 April, our glass was full as we had the amazing opportunity to briefly introduce the Taranaki Foundation - what we do, our vision and how to get involved to nearly 200 Taranaki Business Professionals over a breakfast and a lunch session with Economist Cameron Bagrie.

Steve ‘Coach’ McKean legacy honoured

The memory of a Taranaki sporting legend Steve 'Coach' McKean will live on through a fund created in his name, supporting a cause close to his heart.

Taranaki Hauora Fund

When Kelvin Squire joined our foundation as a Trustee in 2016 he never dreamt that two years later he and his wife Carolyn would be establishing the Taranaki Hauora Fund in memory of their son Leon who died, aged 43, in 2017.

Valerie Webber

The Foundation’s ninth Named Fund was set up in memory of Valerie Webber. Valerie was a life-long resident of Taranaki and a dedicated participant in and supporter of local voluntary organisations and sporting associations.

Dr BF Clarke

Our foundation’s second Named Fund was set up in memory of Dr Basil Clarke by his niece and former Te Karaka Foundation CEO Vicki Haylock. Dr Clarke was a prominent diabetes specialist who worked in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Ken and Jennifer Horner

Ken and Jennifer Horner are a well-known Hāwera couple with a family history of supporting the community reaching back generations. As part of their commitment to Taranaki, they have created a Named Fund with Taranaki Foundation.

Harry and Helen Bayliss

Founding donors Helen and Harry Bayliss are both from rural backgrounds and met while studying Agricultural Science at Massey University. Armed with degrees, determination and no fear of hard work, they managed to buy their first farm in Taranaki.

Terry and Angela Boon

Terry and Angela Boon feel strongly about giving back. Terry is a fourth generation Taranaki resident, while his wife Angela moved to the region in 1970.

Winifred Knight

In 2015 the Winifred Knight Trust was transferred to Taranaki Foundation (then Te Karaka Foundation) becoming our first Named Fund. For 25 years, the Winifred Knight Trust has helped meet educational, community, cultural and recreational needs in Taranaki.

Taranaki Foundation announced as the Official Charity Partner of Taranaki Rugby

Taranaki Foundation Official Charity Partner of Taranaki Rugby.

Ohangai Centennial Teaching Scholarship Recipient

Hawera High School graduate Elyssa Urgino is the most recent recipient of the Ohangai Centennial Teaching Scholarship from the Winifred Knight Trust.