October Grants Deliver $397,660 to Support Education, Environment, and Community Events

From expanding educational facilities to restoring coastal reserves, Otago Community Trust distributed $397,660 in the October Grants Round. Forty-one community organisations across Otago have been awarded grants to advance a range of kaupapa for their communities.

Ōamaru Pacific Island Trust Expands with New Learning Hub
Ōamaru Pacific Island Trust (OPIT) received $75,000 to support the fit-out of a community Learning Hub. In response to increasing demand for their services, OPIT has secured additional premises next door to their current location, enabling them to scale their programmes and better serve the Pacific and wider community.

“This funding will support Stage 2 of our Learning Hub project, ensuring that it is fit for purpose, aligned with our vision to support building and growing the workforce, as well as building capability opportunities for our community.” said Hana Fanene-Taiti, CE, OPIT.

The new Learning Hub will feature purpose-built spaces including the main Fale meeting room, smaller breakout spaces, and a dedicated Digi-Hub with computers and printers to support digital access for those without devices at home. The space will accommodate community outreach workshops, provide digital tech and study support, and offer a culturally responsive environment for learning and community gatherings.

Celebrating Culture and Community Through Festivals and Events
The October Grants round also supported a wide range of celebrations and community events, some of these include:

• Pacific Trust Otago received $25,000 for the Moana Nui Festival 2026, marking the event's 5th iteration on 28 March 2026. This free public festival provides a platform for sharing Pacific cultural knowledge with younger generations and the wider community through performances, crafts, music, and food.
• Dunedin Santa Parade Trust was granted $15,000 for the annual Santa Parade which takes place on 30 November. Over 80 floats, performers and community groups parade down George Street to an estimated turnout of 20,000 people.
• Dunedin City Council received $9,000 for the Chinese Cultural Festival, running from 15 February to 3 March 2026. The festival draws attendees with cultural performances, workshops, lantern installations and food experiences celebrating the Lunar New Year.
  “To the Chinese Community such support is a recognition of our contribution for more than 150 years to the vibrancy, culture and economy of Dunedin and Otago. Do ze sai Otago Community Trust.” said Malcolm Wong, Chair of the Chinese Cultural Festival Advisory Committee.
  
  
• Steampunk NZ Incorporated was awarded $8,000 for the Steampunk NZ Festival 2026 (28 May – 1 June), which celebrates Ōamaru's Victorian architecture and provides a winter get-together for the region.

Additional support was provided for the South Otago A&P Show's 159th Annual Show ($5,000), the Taiari Wai River Festival ($5,000), A Very Taieri Christmas ($3,500), St Andrew's Day celebrations ($4,000), and the 6th National Punjabi Language Week ($1,500).

Supporting Environmental Regeneration and Community Spaces
Recognising the importance of environmental stewardship, the Trust has supported several initiatives focused on regeneration and sustainability.

• Wao Aotearoa received $20,000 to continue their community-led work in the Southern Lakes region. Since 2018, this organisation has been building awareness and facilitating collaboration on climate action, biodiversity, and sustainability.
  
  Monique Kelly from Wao Aotearoa said "This grant helps us to operate as an organisation, providing essential funding that helps us to deliver events such as the Wao Summit and run our programmes for youth and increase food resilience."
  
  
• Taieri Mouth Amenities Society was granted $10,000 for the Sawmill Creek Reserve Restoration Project, which will transform an overgrown former BMX track into a coastal reserve with native plantings, walking tracks and beach access.
  
  
• Ōtematata Residents Association received $3,000 to help maintain the Ōtematata Wetlands, where volunteers have developed walking tracks with extensive native plantings.
  
  

Otago Community Trust Grants, October 2025
Balclutha	Stirling School	30,000.00
	South Otago Agricultural & Pastoral Soc	5,000.00
Cromwell	Grab the Reins	1,000.00
Ōtepoti/Dunedin	Te Mana Āhua Ake Charitable Trust*	5,840.00
	Friends of the Globe Theatre Inc*	7,500.00
	Otago Festival of the Arts Trust*	2,553.00
	Blue Oyster Arts Trust*	6,975.00
	The Connections Education and Development Trust*	5,200.00
	Dunedin City Council - Chinese Cultural Week	9,000.00
	Pacific Trust Otago	25,000.00
	Dunedin Santa Parade Trust	15,000.00
	Taieri Mouth Amenities Soc	10,000.00
	Otago Neighbourhood Support Charitable Trust	7,500.00
	Wakari Art Group Inc	800.00
	Waikouaiti District Museum Soc Inc	2,581.00
	Caversham Baptist Church	8,000.00
	Waikouaiti School	2,810.00
	Dunedin Tai Chi Club Inc	3,840.00
	Dunedin Punjabi Association	1,500.00
	Dunedin Edinburgh Sister City Society Inc	4,000.00
	Broad Bay School	1,657.00
Mosgiel	Taieri Network	3,500.00
	Mosgiel Scout Group	8,000.00
Ōamaru	Ōamaru Pacific Island Trust	75,000.00
	Waitaki Summer Music Camp	3,300.00
Otago	Hockey New Zealand Inc	20,000.00
	Royal New Zealand Plunket Trust	19,000.00
	Heart Kids New Zealand Inc - Otago	2,000.00
	The Student Volunteer Army Foundation	6,200.00
	Steampunk NZ Incorporated	8,000.00
	The Brain Injury Assn (Otago) Inc	5,000.00
	Ōtematata Residents Assoc Inc	3,000.00
	Enabling Love New Zealand	1,220.00
	Catalytic Foundation	2,500.00
Other	CCS Disability Action Services Ltd	28,000.00
	Kenzie's Gift Charitable Trust	3,000.00
Ranfurly	Ranfurly Bowling Club Inc	3,000.00
	Upper Taieri Wai Incorporated	5,000.00
Wānaka	Hāwea Flat School	16,584.00
	Wānaka Community Workshop Trust	9,600.00
	One New Zealand	20,000.00

*These Arts Capability Grants are jointly funded by the Dunedin City Council