$3.1 Million Investment Powers Communities Across the Region
16 Jul 2025
Otago Community Trust has completed the June grants round, which has provided $3,101,863 across 49 grants to support exceptional community initiatives throughout the region. This significant investment reflects our commitment to tautoko the diverse range of organisations and individuals who are working tirelessly to strengthen our communities through sport, culture, infrastructure, and social wellbeing.
Celebrating Regional Sports
The Annual Regional Sports round has supported 29 regional sports organisations with a total of $976,750, recognising the vital role sport plays in building healthy, connected communities. From badminton and touch to rowing, hockey, squash, and basketball, as well as curling, diving, gymnastics, and ice skating, this funding celebrates the remarkable diversity of sporting excellence across our region. These grants acknowledge the dedication of countless volunteers, coaches, and administrators who create opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate in sport and recreation.
Transformative Infrastructure Development
The largest investment for the June Round of $2,000,000 supports the Waitaki Event Centre Trust's Stage 2 development, which will create a comprehensive community facility featuring six courts, activity spaces, meeting rooms, and changing facilities. This transformative project represents the completion of the main build and fit-out, scheduled for opening in February 2026.
"It was incredible to be able to have Otago Community Trust announce a further $2 million grant to our project at the Roof Shout last week” said Deidre Senior from the Waitaki Event Centre Trust. “Having everyone there shows what a great community project this is - it's real and it's exciting!"
The Centre's thoughtfully designed spaces, including a large meeting room and commercial kitchen capable of hosting events for up to 500 people, will serve as a cornerstone for sporting, cultural, and social activities across the Waitaki District for generations to come.
Celebrating Arts and Cultural Innovation
Two theatre productions received support. Musical Theatre Ōamaru's production of Oliver! will bring together 140 community members for performances at the historic Ōamaru Opera House. Meanwhile, the Hic Sunt Dracones production of THE NEUROSPICE GIRLS represents pioneering work in inclusive theatre, creating accessible performances that celebrate neurodivergent experiences and work with Arts Access Aotearoa to ensure meaningful representation and participation.
It is a "funny and ferocious neurodivergent odyssey, from gut-punching denial to celebration ... and how it's extremely annoying that there's a bit more to healing than getting a diagnosis, waving round a crystal, and overusing the word 'boundaries’” said Kim Morgan, Director/Producer for The NEUROSPICE GIRLS.
Supporting Community Safety and Wellbeing
Red Frogs NZ received $5,000 for a purpose-built BBQ trailer that will enhance their vital work in creating safe spaces at events and reducing alcohol-related harm among young people across Ōtepoti and Otago.
Ray Thomson, National Director for Red Frogs said "the funding from Otago Community Trust allows us to further our efforts to reduce alcohol harm in our region through the purchase of a BBQ trailer. This will allow us to expand our alcohol harm activations, both in number and in scope, and allow us to be more agile in our response.”
The Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust received $31,000 for their essential wharepaku/toilet block project at The Snow Farm, addressing critical infrastructure needs for the 19,000 annual user days of skiing, tramping, biking, and educational activities.
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Otago Community Trust Grants, June 2025 |
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Alexandra |
Mainland South BMX Assn Inc |
$18,000.00 |
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Cromwell |
Cromwell Kids Fun Club Inc |
$1,262.00 |
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Central Otago Hockey Assn |
$15,000.00 |
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Dunedin |
John McGlashan College |
$8,000.00 |
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Stage South Charitable Trust |
$9,000.00 |
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Otago Secondary Schools Sports Assn |
$30,000.00 |
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Kelsey Yaralla Kindergarten |
$2,500.00 |
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Otago Badminton Assn Inc |
$16,500.00 |
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Otago Touch Assn Inc |
$40,000.00 |
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Otago Rowing Association Inc |
$27,500.00 |
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Volleyball Otago |
$20,000.00 |
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Otago Rugby League Inc |
$30,000.00 |
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Football South |
$60,300.00 |
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Athletics Otago Inc |
$26,000.00 |
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Tennis Otago Inc |
$15,000.00 |
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Basketball Otago Inc |
$60,000.00 |
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Otago Rugby Football Union Inc |
$60,000.00 |
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Sport Otago |
$175,750.00 |
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Parafed Otago |
$25,000.00 |
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Otago Cricket Assn Inc |
$60,500.00 |
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Diving Ōtākou |
$15,000.00 |
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Dunedin Revival Centre Tongan Assembly of God |
$2,055.00 |
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Andersons Bay Community Kindergarten Inc |
$2,596.00 |
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Otago Chess Club Inc. |
$1,000.00 |
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Pakistan Association of Otago Inc |
$2,500.00 |
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Otago Table Tennis Assn Inc |
$5,000.00 |
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Dunedin Ice Skating Club Inc |
$15,000.00 |
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Otago Hockey Assn (1990) Inc |
$30,000.00 |
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Ōamaru |
Musical Theatre Ōamaru Inc |
$8,900.00 |
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Waitaki Valley School |
$3,500.00 |
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North Otago Rugby Football Union Inc |
$25,000.00 |
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The Y Central South Island |
$2,000.00 |
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Ōamaru Poultry Pigeon & Canary Society |
$600.00 |
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Waitaki Event Centre Trust |
$2,000,000.00 |
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Otago |
Ice Speed Skating New Zealand |
$2,800.00 |
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Red Frogs NZ |
$5,000.00 |
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Special Olympics Nth Otago Trust (NZ Spec O Lwr Sth Is Rgnl Cncl) |
$10,000.00 |
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The UpsideDowns Education Trust |
$2,400.00 |
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Squash Otago Inc |
$25,000.00 |
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Netball South Zone Inc |
$54,000.00 |
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Otago Softball Assn Inc |
$10,000.00 |
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Golf Otago Inc |
$30,000.00 |
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K9 Medical Detection NZ |
$10,000.00 |
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Otago Academy of Sport Charitable Trust |
$35,000.00 |
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NZ Curling Assn Inc |
$12,000.00 |
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Skeggs Foundation |
$20,000.00 |
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Gymnastics New Zealand |
$6,200.00 |
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Wānaka |
Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust |
$31,000.00 |
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Snow Sports NZ Inc |
$35,000.00 |
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