Community groups benefit from community board funding

The Far North’s three community boards have distributed almost $120,000 over the last 3 months to sporting, cultural and community groups.

In March, Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board granted the Russell Tennis Club $20,000 towards a new 40 square meter pavilion. In the club’s funding application, Secretary Jane Newton said the new pavilion would provide a social hub for members and a space that the community can hire for meetings and social gatherings.

Meanwhile, Te Hiku Community Board has assisted the Ahipara Boardriders Club with $30,000 towards a trailer and equipment. The funding will go towards purchasing a lockable events trailer, power source, sound, and microphone system, amenities for cooking, shelter, and seating. Ahipara Boardriders Club will share the equipment with Ahipara Surf Life Saving, Ahipara Takiwa roopu and Te Wairoa Challenge.

A $14,190 grant from Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board will help the Kohukohu bowling club to purchase soil, grass seed and water tanks. In its funding application, the club said it was extremely difficult to maintain bowling greens during the 2018/2019 drought. Water tanks will provide an alternative to town supply water and would enable volunteers to water greens daily.

Other community board funding decisions since February include:

Te Hiku Community Board

• $22,794.17 to Awanui Sports Complex to purchase and install a submersible pump.
• $2,140 to R Tucker Thompson to sponsor one youth to attend a youth development voyage.
• $500 to Kaitaia A&P Association to purchase ribbons for a horse competition.

Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board

• $2,140 to R Tucker Thompson to sponsor one youth to attend a youth development voyage.
• $1,650 to Rob Pink to purchase, transport, and installation of sand for man-made beach area at Clendon Esplanade, Rawene.
• $758 to Manaki Tinana Trust to purchase a laptop to allow them to update their own keyless gym entry system.

Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board

• $15,000 towards concept drawings for The Strand at Russell from the board’s placemaking funds. The funding will help the community develop plans for a revamp of the community hub ad popular tourism destination.
• $5,149 to the Rangitane Residents and Ratepayers Association towards the cost of replacing and updating CCTV cameras.
• $4,922 to R Tucker Thompson to sponsor two youth to attend a youth development voyage.

For further information about community board funding and how to apply, visit the Community Board Funding Page on the FNDC website.