From the Harbour to the Night Sky, Otago Community Trust Confirms $813,940 Funding in March
8 Apr 2026
Otago Community Trust has confirmed grants totalling $813,940 to 35 organisations in its March 2026 round, covering initiatives from dark sky conservation to youth sport, community food networks to choral festivals.
Orange Sky New Zealand will launch a free laundry and shower service in Dunedin, in partnership with The Salvation Army at their Crawford Street site. The service uses a purpose-built mobile pod with commercial washing machines and dryers, and will run two shifts per week from the outset, with a third planned within six months. Volunteers will be on hand not just to operate the equipment but to spend time with the people who use it.
“We're looking forward to launching our essential services of clean laundry, safe showers and genuine conversation for people experiencing homelessness or hardship in Ōtepoti Dunedin," said Lucas Patchett, Orange Sky Co-Founder and CEO. A $10,000 grant from the Otago Community Trust will contribute to the cost of establishing the Dunedin operation — Orange Sky's first presence in the city.
Environment
The Winterstellar Charitable Trust ($10,000) is installing information boards at astronomical sites across Central Otago, setting up dark sky monitoring equipment, and running community outreach events to support the region's International Dark Sky Reserve application.
“Fewer than 0.1% of the world’s population live in a place where they can see the Galactic Core, observe the Aurora, and enjoy a reasonable expectation of clear, dark skies,” says Andy Davey from the Winterstellar Charitable Trust. “Winterstellar will engage with Otago communities to enable sharing the beauty of their night skies through workshops and fixed interactive info panels.”
The Friends of Burns Reserve Trust ($1,300) will continue removing invasive exotic species — primarily Darwin's barberry and sycamore — from 87 hectares of regenerating native bush. The Burns Park Scenic Reserve sits above the West Harbour suburbs and volunteers from the Trust will carry out the work starting at Gerry's Rock.
Community
Our Food Network Dunedin ($4,500) runs networking events connecting food growers, organisations and community members, coordinates volunteer fruit harvests to redirect surplus produce to foodbanks and community pantries. They will also be launching a Local Food Challenge during Matariki to increase awareness of local food sources.
Brighton residents have been working to bring a community pump track to the Brighton Domain — a safe, all-ages space for bikes, scooters and skateboards. The Greater Green Island Community Network has received $35,000 to help make it a reality.
On the Otago Peninsula, the Portobello Volunteer Fire Brigade ($30,000) is purchasing a first-response four-wheel-drive vehicle to improve its ability to attend the growing number of medical callouts in its area.
And Stitch Kitchen, run by the Just Atelier Trust ($15,000), will continue offering classes and workshops in textile skills and upcycling, creating community connection at the same time.
Events
The NZ Festival of Nature, through the Wild Dunedin Trust ($20,000) returns in the April 2026 School Holidays as a multi-day nature and sustainability festival running across the city and region, with events ranging from keynote speakers and workshops to bike rides and a community sing-along led by Don McGlashan.
“With over 250 events in our programme, it takes an army of supporters and community members to deliver a festival that is largely low-cost or free for the local community.” said Carla Munro – Wild Dunedin Festival Director
The NZ International Science Festival ($110,000) receives two-year support covering NanoFest 2026 — a five-day school holiday event in July — and the full festival in 2027, which will also begin building towards the 2028 total solar eclipse visible from Otago.
The Big Sing Regional Festival ($4,000) will bring around 17 secondary school choirs and 450 students to the Dunedin Town Hall in June for Otago's regional heat of New Zealand's largest choral competition, culminating in a public gala concert.
Sport
Southern Football ($25,000) is implementing the national changes to its junior football framework — smaller team sizes, resized fields, and new goals — to give young players more involvement and better experiences. The North Otago Hockey Association ($2,500) is equipping its junior competition with new gear and safety equipment, while investing in the next generation of umpires. The Northern Juniors AFC ($2,000) is purchasing training equipment to support 14 teams. And the Dunedin Ice Hockey Association ($2,240) is reducing cost barriers to help more young people aged 5–18 experience the ice.
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Otago Community Trust Grants, March 2026 |
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Alexandra |
Alexandra Community House |
$5,000.00 |
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Balclutha |
South Otago Historical Soc Inc |
$10,000.00 |
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Clutha Country Music Club |
$1,000.00 |
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Catlins Senior Citizens Club Incorporated |
$1,000.00 |
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Dunedin |
NZ International Science Festival Inc |
$110,000.00 |
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BIAS (Brockville) Charitable Trust |
$50,000.00 |
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Otago Bridge Club |
$15,000.00 |
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Portobello Volunteer Fire Brigade |
$30,000.00 |
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Green Island Rugby Football Club Incorporated |
$17,000.00 |
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Just Atelier Trust |
$15,000.00 |
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Andersons Bay School |
$30,000.00 |
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Southern Football |
$25,000.00 |
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Chisholm Park Golf Club Inc |
$15,000.00 |
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Orange Sky New Zealand Limited |
$10,000.00 |
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Dunedin Wildlife Trust |
$20,000.00 |
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Greater Green Island Community Network Charitable Trust |
$35,000.00 |
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Aphasia New Zealand (AphasiaNZ) Charitable Trust |
$5,000.00 |
|
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Tahuna Normal Intermediate School |
$16,500.00 |
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Northern Junior Association Football Club Inc |
$2,000.00 |
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Dunedin Ice Hockey Assn Inc |
$2,240.00 |
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Our Food Network Dunedin (OFN) Incorporated Society |
$4,500.00 |
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Friends of Burns Reserve Trust |
$1,300.00 |
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Mosgiel |
Taieri Blokes Shed Society Inc |
$4,600.00 |
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Ōamaru |
North Otago Hockey Association |
$2,500.00 |
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North Otago Group Riding for the Disabled Association Inc |
$9,000.00 |
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Otago |
The Boys' Brigade in NZ Inc |
$17,000.00 |
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Business South Inc |
$90,000.00 |
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Winterstellar Charitable Trust |
$10,000.00 |
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Volunteer South/Kaitūao o te Taitonga |
$20,000.00 |
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Good Bitches Trust |
$3,700.00 |
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New Zealand Choral Federation Inc |
$4,000.00 |
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Otago Vintage Machinery Club Inc |
$2,600.00 |
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Other |
Wellington Community Fund |
$25,000.00 |
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Wānaka |
QLDC - Upper Clutha Libraries |
$5,000.00 |
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Upper Clutha Presbyterian Parish |
$200,000.00 |
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