Otago Community Trust Backs Arts, Heritage, and Social Services with $1.33 Million in Latest Round
7 May 2026
From Samoan Independence Day celebrations to putting young musicians on stage for the first time, Otago Community Trust has approved $1,338,085 across 37 grants in its April funding round.
Lawrence Chinese Camp Restoration
The largest single grant in this round — $250,000 — went to the Lawrence Chinese Camp Charitable Trust toward Stages 2 and 3 of the restoration of the Camp. Both the Chinese Empire Hotel and its Stables will be restored and the camp will be brought back into use as a museum of early Chinese history in Aotearoa. The space will also be used for cultural festivals and community events, as well as being a home for artefacts uncovered through archaeological work on the site.
“Thanks to the latest funding, the Lawrence Chinese Camp Charitable Trust are able to complete demolition, stabilisation and extension work on the Hotel and Stables and are close to fully funding the internal restoration and upgrades to the buildings,” said Richard Walter. “At the heart of the camp, these buildings represent the rich history of this heritage site, once the earliest and largest Chinese settlement in New Zealand… This funding not only will preserve them but also enables the Trust to move confidently into the next stage of developing the Lawrence Chinese Camp.”
Performing Arts
A number of performing arts organisations across Otago received support in this round including Rockquest Charitable Trust who received $9,000 to hold Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats events in Otago. These programmes give young musicians from schools across the region the opportunity to create and perform original music in a professional live setting.
“The generous support of Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats programmes will help us provide live music performance opportunities for students in the Otago region." said Glenn Common, Smokefreerockquest founder.
Onstage Wānaka received $10,200 toward its production of That Bloody Woman by Luke di Somma, to be staged over eight performances at the Lake Wānaka Centre and the Central Otago Regional Choir received $2,500 toward its Autumn and Spring Concert Series, with performances in Alexandra, Arrowtown and Wānaka.
Stage South Charitable Trust received $14,500 to support Hic Sunt Dracones' 2026 season. The theatre collective is committed to staging New Zealand works and platforming Otago voices, with a focus on keeping professional theatre accessible.
Community Events and Programmes
The Samoan Advisory Council received $4,000 to support its annual celebration of Samoan Independence Day, held over King's Birthday weekend and coinciding with Samoan Language Week. The event features traditional performances, cultural displays and educational activities open to the whole community.
The Pakistan Association of Otago received $2,760 toward their 2026 Eid al-Adha Community Engagement Festival — an occasion centred on togetherness, generosity and gratitude with a strong focus on cross-cultural connection and inclusion. The Dunedin Tamil Society received $6,450 toward their Cultural and Social Wellbeing Project, a programme that spans festivals celebrating traditions such as Deepavali, Pongal and Tamil New Year, alongside health and wellbeing activities, language classes, youth development and women's empowerment initiatives.
Social Services
Eleven organisations received a combined $826,200 through the Social Services funding round, supporting a range of essential services for people across Otago. These organisations provide a broad spectrum of services including family support, counselling, food assistance, youth programmes, elder care, addiction services and family violence prevention services across Dunedin, Central Otago and surrounding areas.
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Otago Community Trust Grants, April 2026 |
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Alexandra |
Central Otago Rural Education Activities Programme (REAP) |
$12,500.00 |
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Central Otago Regional Choir |
$2,500.00 |
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Alexandra Community Advice Network Incorporated |
$2,500.00 |
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Dunedin |
Catholic Social Services |
$68,250.00 |
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Otago Youth Wellness Trust |
$119,700.00 |
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Te Hou Ora Whānau Services Limited |
$90,000.00 |
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Presbyterian Support Otago |
$84,000.00 |
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Stage South Charitable Trust |
$14,500.00 |
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Stopping Violence Dunedin Charitable Trust |
$30,000.00 |
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Aroha Ki Te Tamariki |
$80,000.00 |
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Al-Mahdi incorporated |
$7,000.00 |
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Methodist Mission Southern |
$78,750.00 |
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Otago Medical Research Foundation Inc |
$60,000.00 |
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Anglican Family Care |
$99,250.00 |
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Otago University Childcare Assn Inc |
$40,000.00 |
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Dunedin Tamil Society Incorporated |
$6,450.00 |
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Dunedin Secondary Schools Partnership Charitable Trust |
$5,000.00 |
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Dunedin Poultry Pigeon & Cage Bird Club |
$2,700.00 |
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Pakistan Association of Otago Inc |
$2,760.00 |
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Samoan Advisory Council |
$4,000.00 |
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Kaikorai Grays Sport & Travel Inc |
$2,500.00 |
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Milton |
Lawrence Chinese Camp Charitable Trust |
$250,000.00 |
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Mosgiel |
Mosgiel Playcentre |
$3,000.00 |
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Ōamaru |
The Y Central South Island |
$3,000.00 |
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Otago |
New Zealand Council of Victim Support Groups |
$5,000.00 |
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Chamber Music New Zealand Trust |
$11,500.00 |
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Stroke Foundation of NZ |
$27,000.00 |
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Diabetes New Zealand |
$5,000.00 |
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Salvation Army New Zealand |
$45,000.00 |
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New Zealand Endometriosis Foundation Charitable Trust |
$3,000.00 |
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Rockquest Charitable Trust |
$9,000.00 |
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Epilepsy Association of New Zealand Inc |
$5,000.00 |
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Dunedin Clay Target Club Inc |
$7,275.00 |
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Able - Southern Families Support |
$63,000.00 |
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Age Concern Otago Inc |
$68,250.00 |
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Wānaka |
Onstage Wānaka Society Incorporated |
$10,200.00 |
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Lake Hāwea Community Centre Inc |
$10,500.00 |
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