Our Donors – The Heart of Taranaki Foundation

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.

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.

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

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.

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).

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

In 2016, Debbie McCallum, a former Foundation Trustee established the Debbie McCallum Fund to give back to the sport that has given her so much.

In 2024, The John Wood Memorial Scholarship Fund was established with Taranaki Foundation to provide an annual scholarship assistance for a New Plymouth Boys' High School student.

Janine Evans, about to celebrate her 65th birthday, is marking this milestone with more than cake and balloons – she’s creating a personal legacy for the community through Taranaki Foundation. 

Glen passed away in November 2022 and through a gift in his will, Glen will be enabling scholarships for Taranaki students specifically in the areas of journalism and photography.

In December 2022 the Brookdell Fear Trust Fund was created together with the Taranaki Foundation.

The Friends of New Plymouth Opera House recently transferred their assets to Taranaki Foundation so that the excellent work they have undertaken for many years is continued in perpetuity.

The Lysaght-Watt Fund will continue supporting Arts, Culture and Heritage funding across Taranaki.

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

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.