14 Far North community groups funded

The district’s three Community Boards have distributed nearly $50,000 in funding this year to Far North sporting, cultural and community groups.

Each year the Council’s three Community Boards fund a range of community organisations and events from the Local Grants Fund. The funding aims to encourage community leadership, self-reliance, volunteer work, and new facilities or services within the Kaikohe-Hokianga, Te Hiku, and Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Wards.  

Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board has shared nearly $24,000 among four groups. Of that, $13,500 went to Midway Incorporated Northland Day Services Trust to buy a physical therapy machine, and a pool lifting device. The equipment will be installed at Kawakawa’s Te Papawai Bay of Islands Community Pool for community use.

The Board also allocated:

·         $4350 to youth addictions support group, Be Free Incorporated, to help it attend the Mangonui Waterfront Festival.

·         $3130 to Kaeo Festival Group to run Nga Purapura 2019, Kaeo’s music, arts and nature festival for children.

·         $2900 to Pear Tree Paddlers to stage the National and Regional School Stand Up Paddle Boarding Championships 2019.

In Kaikohe-Hokianga, Taheke Marae was granted $7000 by the Community Board to help purchase aluminium windows and hire scaffolding, part of on-going health and safety improvements being made to marae buildings.

In total, the Board has distributed almost $18,000 this year, including:

·         $3700 to Volunteering Northland to assist with annual operating costs.

·         $2500 to the Rawiri Love - Smiley Campaign to promote Get Fit Kaikohe.

·         $2000 to Hokianga Environmental Protection Group to assist with the Real Food Hokianga festival.

·         $1500 to Ohaeawai Taiamai Residents Association to assist with the Taiamai community day.

·         $700 to Rawene Golf Club to help with catering for the Hokianga Golf Fun Day 2019.

·         $500 to Hokianga Sailing Trust for the cost of replacing life vests.

Te Hiku Community Board has distributed nearly $7000 this year, including $3000 to the New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Association to stage the 2019 NZ Offshore Powerboat Series at Doubtless Bay on 29 April.

It also provided $2970 to Awhina Hoiho, a Kaitaia-based therapy charity, and $1000 to Be Free Incorporated to attend the 2019 Be Free Event at Mangonui.

Community Groups wanting to apply for funding should go to www.fndc.govt.nz/services/community to find out more.