$1.33 million back to Otago Communities in June Grants Round
13 Jul 2026
Otago Community Trust has distributed $1,331,186 across 54 grants in its June 2026 funding round, supporting projects from playgrounds and sensory gardens to cultural festivals, community arts and recreation facilities across the region.
Spaces for tamariki to play and grow
Several grants in this round support new and upgraded play spaces for tamariki.
The Waitati Hall Society received $6,000 toward a new toddler playground at the Blueskin Community Complex. Already home to a nibble garden, picnic tables and a community kai pantry, the hall grounds acts as a natural gathering point during library visits. This project creates a new place for whānau to linger together within the current space.
“We are delighted with the grant and are now able to purchase a swing… This is a fenced and safe spot right beside our wonderful library, it’s perfect.” said Mandy Mayhem from the Waitati Hall Society.
In Central Otago, Roxburgh Playcentre received $7,000 for the first stage of a two-stage playground upgrade, removing old tyres and laying a certified safety surface that will support a new play fort in the next phase of the project.
"Roxburgh Playcentre is important to parents and children in our community; on Monday and Friday it is the only activity for children under 5 in the area. The playground is open every day, and as the only fully fenced playground in the valley, it is a safe place for parents to meet with small children” said Alice Prior, parent volunteer and president of Roxburgh Playcentre. “Roxburgh Playcentre has been a lifeline to me. I moved to Roxburgh just before my twins were born and, with no family nearby, it became a place of connection, support, and friendship".
Corstorphine Kindergarten received $8,249 toward a sensory garden, introducing musical instruments, textured and scented plants, and varied underfoot elements to an underused corner of the kindergarten grounds. The space is designed to support neurodiverse tamariki, under-threes and ESOL learners, while also serving the wider Dunedin Kindergarten community during school holiday programmes.
“This support will put us one step closer to building our sensory garden, an inclusive, community orientated learning space where our tamariki can learn, grow, and thrive.” said James Hamilton, Corstorphine Kindergarten Head Teacher.
Festivals and arts bringing people together
Cultural and creative life across Otago also received a boost this round. The Dunedin Senior Chinese Association received $2,000 to help stage its fifth Mid-Autumn Festival, bringing together multiple cultural groups for an evening of performance that celebrates Chinese tradition while honouring the contribution of senior community members.
In the Clutha district, the Lawrence Summer Art Festival received $7,000 to support its Community Arts Workshop Programme, which runs workshops in all kinds of different activities including ceramics, cheesemaking, narrative writing and more. The funding will help the group expand from koha-based evening sessions into regular after-school and daytime drop-in programmes, with plans for a community arts library and a ‘Studio in a Suitcase’ initiative to bring craft materials directly to those with limited mobility.
A new bouldering wall for Cromwell
In Cromwell, $30,474 has gone toward an indoor bouldering wall at Cromwell College - a partnership between Cromwell Climbing and the college. Once complete, the wall will be used by the college during school hours and opened to the public some evenings and weekends - giving the town a long-requested all-weather recreation option, particularly over winter.
“A dedicated bouldering facility in Cromwell will provide a crucial indoor space, ensuring active recreation remains accessible throughout the harsh Central Otago winters” said Kieran Parsons from Cromwell Climbing. “Beyond physical fitness, the wall will offer youth a practical environment to develop resilience and coordination, directly supporting local educational and outdoor leadership initiatives”.
Regional sports
Alongside these grants, the Trust's Regional Sports Round contributed a further $965,530 across 28 grants, supporting sporting organisations throughout Otago.
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Otago Community Trust Grants, June 2026 |
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Alexandra |
Creative Fibre Alexandra |
$970.00 |
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Cromwell |
Cromwell Climbing |
$30,474.00 |
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Central Otago Hockey Assn |
$15,000.00 |
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Dunedin |
Otago University Students' Assn Inc |
$30,000.00 |
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Te Vaka Cook Islands of Dunedin Incorporated |
$8,000.00 |
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Otago Boys High School |
$11,000.00 |
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Waitati hall Society Incorporated |
$6,000.00 |
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Halfway Bush School |
$4,000.00 |
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Dunedin South City FC Inc |
$4,900.00 |
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Dunedin Friend-Link Trust |
$6,200.00 |
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Corstorphine Kindergarten |
$8,249.00 |
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Dunedin Tai Chi Club Inc |
$4,000.00 |
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Wakari Art Group Incorporated |
$1,600.00 |
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Dunedin Tap Dancing Society Inc |
$2,000.00 |
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Dunedin Senior Chinese Assn |
$2,000.00 |
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Otago Table Tennis Assn Inc |
$5,000.00 |
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Tennis Otago Inc |
$15,000.00 |
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Otago Touch Assn Inc |
$40,000.00 |
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Southern Football |
$60,300.00 |
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Otago Rowing Association Inc |
$30,000.00 |
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Otago Cricket Assn Inc |
$60,500.00 |
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Volleyball Otago |
$20,000.00 |
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Athletics Otago Inc |
$26,000.00 |
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Otago Hockey Assn (1990) Inc |
$30,000.00 |
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Otago Secondary Schools Sports Ass Inc |
$30,000.00 |
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Basketball Otago Inc |
$60,000.00 |
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Sport Otago |
$180,000.00 |
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Diving Ōtākou |
$15,000.00 |
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Otago Rugby Football Union Inc |
$60,000.00 |
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Parafed Otago |
$25,000.00 |
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Mosgiel |
Mosgiel Ballet Society Inc |
$1,500.00 |
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Ōamaru |
Musical Theatre Ōamaru Inc |
$10,000.00 |
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Awamoa Bowling Club Inc |
$3,500.00 |
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North Otago Scout Zone |
$7,000.00 |
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Ōamaru Poultry Pigeon & Canary Society |
$600.00 |
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North Otago Rugby Football Union Inc |
$25,000.00 |
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The North Otago Lawn Tennis Association Incorporated |
$10,730.00 |
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Otago |
Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand |
$145,000.00 |
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Holocaust Centre of New Zealand Inc |
$1,963.00 |
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Mainland South BMX Assn Inc |
$18,000.00 |
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Netball South Zone Inc |
$60,000.00 |
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NZ Curling Assn Inc |
$10,000.00 |
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Golf Otago Inc |
$30,000.00 |
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Otago Softball Assn Inc |
$10,000.00 |
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Squash Otago Inc |
$25,000.00 |
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Special Olympics New Zealand |
$25,000.00 |
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Otago Academy of Sport Charitable Trust |
$35,000.00 |
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Gymnastics New Zealand |
$10,000.00 |
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Other |
Lawrence Summer Art Festival 2009 Inc. |
$7,000.00 |
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Roxburgh |
Roxburgh Playcentre |
$7,000.00 |
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Wānaka |
Mana Tāhuna Charitable Trust |
$12,500.00 |
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Alpine Community Development Trust |
$35,000.00 |
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Wānaka Yacht Club Inc |
$15,200.00 |
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Snow Sports NZ Inc |
$35,000.00 |
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