Solar panels, sea lion-proof fences and a food forest: Otago groups lead environmental projects
29 Oct 2026
A heated community pool, a native plant nursery, and the restoration of a Whare Karakia at Ōtākou Marae are among the projects supported in Otago Community Trust’s October funding round. In total, 51 grants worth $647,952 were approved, including six Arts Capability grants (jointly funded with Dunedin City Council) totalling $30,000.
Environment
Kaitangata Community Pool Committee Incorporated received $38,574 towards solar panels for the Kaitangata Community Pool. The pool had a major upgrade in 2025, and heat pumps were installed earlier this year as part of the first stage of the refurbishment. The solar panels will power the heat pumps, reducing reliance on the main electricity grid and keeping these costs low. This will allow access to the pool to be free for the local primary school and keep season passes affordable.
Tomahawk-Smaills Beach Care Trust received $4,000 towards a rabbit and sea lion proof fence for its native plant nursery at Smaills Beach. The Trust is a conservation group working to restore biodiversity at Ocean Grove Reserve through native planting. The nursery is the hub of this work and produces around 5,000 native plants each year. Rabbits have caused significant damage to plants, and while volunteers don’t mind a sea lion visit, when they accidentally enter the nursery, plants can get damaged and the volunteer programme gets disrupted.
“Our volunteers give much time and effort to grow and nurture native plants for our coastal duneland restoration mahi” said Nicole Bezemer, from the Trust. “Having the ability to protect those growing seedlings from the impacts of rabbits will be a game-changer. We will miss having sea lions and their pups visiting us in our nursery, however, we will absolutely not miss the bunnies!”
Tsunagaru Terra Trust received $5,000 towards establishing a Food Forest in Ōtepoti. The project will trial a cool-temperate approach to syntropic agroforestry, with the aim of providing food for local foodbanks while restoring native forest. The funding will go towards plant stock, site safety cover and operational set-up. The Trust will work with local distribution networks, including The Salvation Army, and the site will give volunteers hands-on experience in climate-resilient food production.
“At the heart of our work is a simple commitment to being in service of Life; we believe that when we restore the land and give back to Nature, we are rewarded with an abundance we can share” said Junichi Sugishita, Co-Founder and Chair of the Tsunagaru Terra Trust. “This funding will allow us to provide fresh food for local foodbanks this coming season, while quietly nurturing a permanent, resilient food forest alongside our native forest restoration for generations to come.”
Heritage
Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou received $30,000 towards restoring the heritage terracotta tile roof of the Whare Karakia at Ōtākou Marae. Built in 1940, the Whare Karakia is the only Art Deco Māori church in Aotearoa. Its exterior features carvings made from concrete moulds and walls clad in pebbles from the Moeraki coastline, sourced with the support of Kāi Tahu relations at Moeraki Rūnaka.
Upoko Edward Ellison said “The Whare Karakia project will help to enhance the sense of pride and belonging for our people and for the Otago community. The Whare Karakia has layers of value and identity woven into its history and we want that to extend for generations to come. The building itself is a place to gather, participate and celebrate our history, heritage and identity.”
For over 80 years the building has been used for personal reflection and for religious and wairua purposes, including weddings, tangihanga, dedications and memorials. The adjoining Whare Taoka holds taoka relating to the life and times of Ōtākou and the history of the Christian mission. The restoration is the first step in the hapū’s long-term vision of an expanded museum, with improved storage for whakapapa collections and whānau taoka and wider public access.
Santa is on the way…
- Taieri Network received $3,500 towards A Very Taieri Christmas, a series of free community events during December and January. The events are run in partnership with local service clubs, along with businesses, performers and volunteers, who contribute time, equipment and expertise.
- Ōamaru Combined Churches Christmas Parcels Trust received $2,000 towards Christmas food and gift parcels for families experiencing significant hardship in the Waitaki area. The parcels include the makings of a Christmas dinner and a gift for every family member.
- Caversham Baptist Church received $9,000 towards 50 large food parcels for families over the summer break. This is the fifth year the church has run the initiative. Families choose the items most useful to them from a tick sheet.
- Catalytic Foundation received $2,500 towards its Christmas Shoebox Project in Otago. Donors fill boxes with gifts and essential items, or donate items in bulk, and teams check, wrap and assemble the boxes. The boxes are distributed to families in hardship through local charities.
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Otago Community Trust Grants, October 2026 |
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Alexandra |
Central Otago Group Riding for the Disabled Association |
$16,000.00 |
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Balclutha |
St Mary MacKillop Catholic Church of Balclutha |
$5,000.00 |
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Cromwell |
Tarras School |
$15,000.00 |
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Dunedin |
Bradford Primary School |
$14,000.00 |
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He Waka Kōtuia Trust |
$10,500.00 |
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Dunedin City Council - Chinese Cultural Week |
$9,500.00 |
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Dunedin City Council – Puaka Matariki Celebrations |
$15,000.00 |
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St Hildas Collegiate School |
$7,000.00 |
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Aroha Ki Te Tamariki |
$55,000.00 |
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Castle Charitable Trust |
$3,700.00 |
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Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou |
$30,000.00 |
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Kaikorai Junior Cricket Club Inc |
$1,500.00 |
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Dunedin Fringe Arts Trust |
$3,750.00 |
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Saddle Hill Foundation Trust |
$35,000.00 |
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Dunedin Dream Brokerage, C/- Otago Polytechnic |
$7,500.00 |
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Otago University Rowing Club Inc |
$10,000.00 |
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Otago Art Society Inc |
$3,000.00 |
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Otago Festival of the Arts Trust |
$5,250.00 |
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NZ Chinese Assn Otago Southland Inc |
$4,000.00 |
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Drug Injecting Services in Canterbury Trust |
$5,000.00 |
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Otago Polytechnic - Pacific Island Scholarships |
$10,000.00 |
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Ignite Consultants |
$3,000.00 |
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iD Dunedin Fashion CharitableTrust |
$6,500.00 |
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Tomahawk-Smaills Beachcare Trust |
$4,000.00 |
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South Dunedin Community Network Inc |
$10,800.00 |
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Tsunagaru Terra Trust |
$5,000.00 |
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Caversham Baptist Church |
$9,000.00 |
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Punga Croquet Club Inc |
$1,538.00 |
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Mosgiel |
Taieri Musical Society Inc |
$10,000.00 |
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Silverstream South Primary School |
$65,000.00 |
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Taieri Network |
$3,500.00 |
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Ōamaru |
Ōamaru Combined Churches Christmas Parcels Trust |
$2,000.00 |
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Waitaki Summer Music Camp |
$3,590.00 |
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Otago |
Skeggs Foundation |
$25,000.00 |
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Corstorphine Community Hub |
$8,500.00 |
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Otago Islanders Sport Trust |
$4,500.00 |
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Cavalcade Host Town Committee Inc |
$7,000.00 |
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Arts On Tour NZ |
$27,000.00 |
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Hampden Community Energy Society Inc |
$40,000.00 |
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Catalytic Foundation |
$2,500.00 |
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Enabling Love New Zealand |
$3,500.00 |
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Kaitangata Community Pool Committee Incorporated |
$38,574.00 |
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Kenzie's Gift Charitable Trust |
$3,000.00 |
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Ranfurly |
Otago Central Rail Trail Charitable Trust |
$20,000.00 |
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Māniototo Rodeo Club Inc |
$7,500.00 |
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Roxburgh |
Teviot Valley Educare Centre Inc |
$14,350.00 |
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Waik/Palm |
Football Waitaki Incorporated |
$3,500.00 |
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Wānaka |
Te Kura O Take Kārara |
$8,500.00 |
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Mental Hunts Charitable Trust |
$10,000.00 |
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Challenge Wānaka Sports Trust |
$12,500.00 |
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Wānaka Squash Rackets Club Inc |
$22,400.00 |
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