Five of Ko Wai Au Trust’s six staff members, from left, Mikaera Hemara and Emma Stockman, both rangatahi kaimahi, Tiri Maresca-Allison, team lead and co-founders, husband and wife Georgina and Andrew Christie. The trust has applied for $3000 of the Pirongia Ward Committee’s discretionary funding to help it fund van maintenance. Photo: Jeremy Smith
The Pirongia Ward Committee has $29,000 of discretionary funding to allocate for the 2023/24 financial year, and was to begin the process of deciding who gets what last night.
But some of those wanting a slice of the cash will miss out.
The agenda for the committee’s September meeting – held yesterday after The News went to print – confirmed the committee has received a total of 19 applications totalling almost $49,000.
These applications are round one of two rounds of funding for this financial year. The other is set for next year.
Speaking to The News on Monday ahead of its Wednesday meeting, Pirongia ward Committee chair Clare St Pierre – a Waipā district Pironga-Kakepuku Ward councillor – said the process of allocating the funds was set to be “challenging” given the high calibre
of the organisations and groups which had applied.
“There are a broad range of wonderful organisations doing fantastic work represented in the applications.
“We’re always a little constrained in that we only have a finite amount of funding to distribute,” St Pierre said.
The committee’s discretionary funds are delegated to the committee by Waipā District Council to help it promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of community groups or organisations in the Pirongia-Kakepuku ward.
The largest application received this funding round was from Ōhaupō Community Sport and Recreation Centre which applied for $10,000 in order to create a master concept plan as the organisation seeks to develop a bare paddock at Memorial Park, Ōhaupō.
This was followed by an application from Mangahia Catchment Charitable Trust seeking $5000 to help fund the development of a restoration and management plan for the lower end of Mangahia Gully.
Among other applicants was Ko Wai Au Trust, which applied for $3000 towards van maintenance and running costs and Pirongia Playcentre, which applied for $2550 to create a mural celebrating its 50-year anniversary.
