Nikau Foundation has given almost $28,000 to community organisations supporting the Ōtaki community during its 2022 grants round.

It gave out almost $90,000 throughout the Kāpiti district.

Nikau Foundation’s 2022 funding in Ōtaki includes:

•  a $7000 grant to Energise Ōtaki Charitable Trust

•  a $7500 grant for Ōtaki College to help develop its educational garden

•  $3750 to the Mirek Smizek Arts Trust to help with a new pottery centre in Te Horo

•  a $3669 grant to Zero Waste Ōtaki

•  $3600 to Te Rito o te Kura Charitable Trust to develop its food forest, and

•  $3000 to help fund floodlighting for Ōtaki Sports Club.

“We are delighted to be able to grow our impact this year by partnering with more Ōtaki organisations than ever before,” says Nikau Foundation executive director Em Lewis. “We have been blown away by the innovation, community-focused solutions, and creativity taking place locally from environmental projects to the development of community gardens, and are so proud to be supporting some of these vital initiatives.”

She says funding this year reflected Nikau’s knowledge and connection with its local communities.

“We really listen to the needs of local community organisations so we can support them in the most impactful ways. We’re here to make a positive difference for the people and places of Ōtaki.”

For Energise Ōtaki, securing the funding meant safeguarding its plans for growth by hiring a part-time coordinator and communications lead.

“Our biggest focus is to build capacity and strengthen our operational structures so we can continue to work towards our vision,” chair Leigh Ramsay says. “For us, this funding is invaluable. It has allowed us to free up the time of trustees so they can focus on the big picture and get more of our projects off the ground.”

After the Rotary Club of Ōtaki Fund was established last year, the first grants were given out this year, in line with the fund’s vision of supporting the community in many ways.

One of these grants was given to support the Ōtaki Sports Club floodlight installation.

“Organised sports provide many benefits for the community, including health, increased well-being, and encouraging sociality,” says Ōtaki Rotary chair Adrian Gregory. “By helping to fund this floodlighting, the whole community will be able to reap these benefits all-year round.”

Another $1000 from the Ōtaki fund was to buy books for the Alan Duff Charitable Foundation’s Books in Homes scheme.

See nikaufoundation.nz