Rural health, freshwater care, and community festivals share $1.6million August Grants Round

Media Release

Otago Community Trust has distributed $1,619,559 across 31 grants in its August 2026 funding round, supporting rural health infrastructure, freshwater care, as well as festivals and community events that bring people together across the region.

Rural Health Infrastructure

The largest grant in this round, $1,000,000, goes towards the Waitaki Valley Health Hub in Kurow - a community-owned rural health, wellness and emergency response facility serving the wider Waitaki region.

Shaped by extensive community consultation, the Hub brings primary healthcare, rehabilitation, mental health and wellbeing support, social services and outreach together under one roof. The Hub is also designed to strengthen emergency response capability, helping the wider community stay connected and supported during adverse events.

Waitaki Valley Health Trust Trustee Juliet Gray said “This support takes the Waitaki Valley Health Hub another huge step towards becoming a reality and means we are now over 90% funded. Local people have backed this project incredibly hard, and to have Otago Community Trust standing alongside us is pretty special. We are hugely grateful for this investment.”

Environment

WAI Wānaka received $25,000 towards its ongoing work bringing the Upper Clutha community together to protect and care for freshwater. Over the past decade, WAI Wānaka has grown from a small group of residents into a connected organisation delivering environmental education, catchment action, and science-based advocacy across the region.

“Protecting freshwater is something none of us can do alone.” said Cat Dillon, CEO WAI Wānaka. “Thanks to this support, we can continue bringing together schools, volunteers, businesses and community members to take collective action for the health of local lakes, rivers, and catchment for generations to come.”

WAI Wānaka’s programmes include freshwater education in schools, catchment groups caring for local waterways, community events such as beach clean-ups and stream health monitoring, and research internships. This work depends on sustained community effort to protect and restore the region's waterways for future generations.

Community Events and Festivals

A significant share of this round went to festivals and events that support community connection across Otago, from long-running agricultural shows to arts festivals.

The South Otago A&P Society received $5,000 towards its 160th Annual Show on 28 November. Celebrating the region's agricultural heritage through livestock exhibits, equestrian events and home industry displays, the South Otago A&P show brings the wider community together for a full day of entertainment and family activities.

The Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust received $88,400 towards the 2027 Festival of Colour and the 2028 Aspiring Conversations. The Festival of Colour brings eight days of theatre, dance, music, and visual arts to Wānaka, including a free public programme and an ongoing artist-in-schools initiative. Aspiring Conversations, held in alternate years, brings speaker and theatre sessions to the community.

The Ōamaru Opera House Charitable Trust received $10,000 towards the Waitaki Arts Festival 2026, running from 16–25 October across venues including Kurow Hall, Forrester Gallery and the Ōamaru Opera House. The programme includes events spanning music, theatre, comedy and literature, delivered in collaboration with Waitaki's cultural facilities, artists and community groups.

Frances McElhinney, Manager at the Ōamaru Opera House said “The Waitaki Arts Festival strengthens our community by bringing people together through shared cultural experiences, creating opportunities for connection, creativity, and participation. The festival showcases local and national artists, increasing access to high-quality arts experiences for people of all ages.  The festival attracts visitors and encourages community engagement, the festival also supports local businesses and helps foster a sense of pride in Waitaki as a place where arts and culture can thrive.”

Further grants supporting festivals and events reaching audiences across the region include: Fine Thyme Theatre Company ($9,563) for the staging of Rush!, a locally written musical set during the Otago gold rush; Alexandra Blossom Festival Inc ($6,000) for the 69th Annual Alexandra Blossom Festival; iD Dunedin Fashion Charitable Trust ($21,000) for iD Dunedin Fashion Week 2027; and Show Me Shorts Film Festival Trust ($5,521) for the Show Me Shorts Film Festival screening across Otago in October.