Proceeds from the sale of the Rotary Hall last year are being returned to the community via the Nikau Foundation.

The hall was sold by the Ōtaki Rotary Club after it became clear the building would be a drain on assets.

“Our mission is to serve the community, and we felt we could do that best by using money from the sale to invest in the people and projects that benefit Ōtaki,” says club president Adrian Gregory. “We wanted to ensure we left a lasting legacy, beyond that of any of the members we have today.

“Partnering with the Nikau Foundation meant we were future-proofing our impact as a club and ensuring that we could continue to support local projects, causes and initiatives well into the future.”

A total of $335,000 has gone into the fund, allowing about $4000 to be available to Ōtaki applicants this year. It could be more in coming years as the return on investments this year was not for a full 12 months.

Applications for the 2022 round close on March 14 (see page 15).

Although the fund is administered by the Nikau Foundation, it’s assisted by an advisory committee consisting of a member of the community and two Rotary Club members. That committee will consider the needs of the community and how funded organisation might be helped to grow, and then make recommendations to the Nikau board for a final decision.

Maddie Mcleod at the Nikau Foundation says her organisation values local committee input.

“We work collaboratively with our committtees so any grant decisions we make are in consultation with people who really know their community well,” Maddie says. “Then we can be sure funds are going to the areas where they’re most needed.

Grants from the Rotary Club of Ōtaki Fund cover four key areas: youth, community, health and well-being, and the environment. Applications might be in one or several of those categories. And unlike many other grants, funds can be for staff and operational costs.

The Nikau Foundation was a major sponsor of the sculpture symposium in Ōtaki.

 For eligibility criteria or to apply, see nikaufoundation.nz/2022