September 2014 Recipients
Recreate NZ

Recreate NZ, which offer a unique range of adventure programs for disabled youth, received $3,000 to purchase a shuttle trailer for their Auckland branch. The trailer will be used to carry participants’ gear to activities organised by the charity, which include camping, white water rafting, and caving. Recreate NZ run over 200 programs a year for its Auckland participants but also operate in Christchurch. Many of the camps and getaway trips take place all over New Zealand, from Cape Reinga in the far north to Queenstown in the South Island. The organisation ensures that those who take part are able to enjoy New Zealand’s beautiful surroundings and adventure tourism safely, however this is only possible by providing secure transport as well as a means of carrying personal gear, food and equipment.

September 2014 Recipients
The Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre

The Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre provides rescue, care and rehabilitation for all types of sick and injured birds. It received $1,949.56 to install new blinds in its bird recovery rooms. The centre cares for approximately 1,200 birds annually with the help of hard working volunteers. These new blinds, will allow the ultra violet light and heating to be better controlled, aiding the birds’ recovery. Since it was established in August 1992, the centre has cared for and treated thousands of birds, with the aim of releasing them back into the wild as soon as they can fend for themselves. For the few birds that cannot be released because of permanent injuries, the centre provides ongoing care. These birds then form a valuable part of its breeding and education programs.

September 2014 Recipients
Addington.net

Addington.net, a community computer centre, received $1,174 to purchase six Scribbler Robots. The Scribblers enable children to explore the topics of robotics and programming. The students learn about programming the devices to drive, flash their lights, talk, or anything else their imaginations can come up with. The devices encourage the children to think logically, problem solve and learn about practical robotics. These sorts of IT skills are vital to the economy but are in short supply. The centre was established as a proactive solution to help bridge the digital divide, by providing low cost computer access. Thanks to the Mazda Foundation Addington.net can purchase six additional robots and more children will be able to participate and increase their IT skills.

September 2014 Recipients
Goldfields Kindergarten

Goldfields Kindergarten in Otago received $800 to put towards improving its outdoor area with special climbing equipment. The kindergarten provides education and care for children aged six months to five years and encourages learning through play. The new equipment, which includes a play cube and slide, is designed to support and encourage development of motor skills, and appeal to children of all ages. It will boost upper body strength, co-ordination, spatial awareness and balance, and will provide exciting physical play opportunities for the kids. Thanks to the Mazda Foundation’s financial assistance, the kindergarten is able to add to its stimulating and interactive playground where children have the opportunity to grow and develop, but also learn about taking risks in a safe but challenging environment.

September 2014 Recipients
St Patrick’s Scout Group

St Patrick’s Scout Group received $2,022 to put towards radio and archery equipment for its 60 members to learn from and enjoy. The group has experienced a growth in members recently, meaning resources are stretched. Four handheld radios will help teach children about communication methods and the importance of safety. The group is also looking to add archery to its current program and the purchase of six new archery sets means they can offer a completely new educational program for members. Scout groups, such as St Patricks, provide a safe, nurturing and fun environment for young boys and girls to learn and develop in. Through interaction with others and teamwork, Scouting develops leadership skills and self-confidence, as well as an appreciation of the outdoors.

September 2014 Recipients
Christchurch School of Music

Christchurch School of Music received $2,331.07 to purchase a sound system which will improve the quality of its shows, including solo performances, recitals and concerts. The school provides tuition in practical and theoretical music skills and provides opportunities to study, practice and perform a wide range of music, such as rock and jazz. It also produces several instrumental and choral music concerts, and recitals throughout the year. The school offers its students financial hardship grants and earthquake scholarships, as it believes musical education should be available to all young people regardless of their financial situation. This assistance from the Mazda foundation grant means the school will no longer need to hire a sound system and can continue to offer grants and scholarships, along with keeping their fees low cost.

June 2014 Recipients
ADHD Association

The ADHD Association received $1,236.71 from the Mazda Foundation to purchase a desktop computer to use in the office, as their current one is reaching the end of its life. They recently updated their website and started a Facebook page. Now that families are increasingly relying on email and social media to communicate, the centre needed up to date equipment to keep up with the demand! The association has been supporting families across the country affected by ADHD for over 30 years. Its service includes providing information on treatment and management, informative newsletters, helpline counselling and providing support groups on how to manage a child or adult with ADHD.

June 2014 Recipients
East Tamaki Primary

East Tamaki Primary School received $1,500 to purchase new, more robust recyclable waste bins with lids and signage to further the school’s quest to become as sustainable as possible. The previous bins had no lids, meaning that teachers were reluctant to keep them in their classrooms so they were not easily accessible to students. This resulted in tonnes of recyclable and compostable rubbish being sent to the landfill each year, such as food scraps, which could be used in their worm farm. East Tamaki Primary believe that environmental education is a vital part of a child’s upbringing and contributes to turning out responsible and well-rounded members of society. The school has been a model for many environmentally-friendly initiatives including an extensive vegetable patch, orchard and native garden. Thanks to these initiatives the school has noticed a flow on effect with many students introducing sustainable practises into their homes.

June 2016 Recipients
Christchurch School of Music

The Christchurch School of Music received $5,792 to purchase violin and cello cases needed to protect their instruments when moving them to different environments for practise, solo recitals, indoor concerts and outdoor events. The school believes in providing musical education for all young people regardless of their financial situation and prides itself in supplying quality instruments for hire at a low cost. The new cases will not only provide the students with a greater sense of pride in looking after their instruments but will enable the school to provide the protection needed to ensure the instruments are well looked after, without having to increase their fees.

June 2014 Recipients
Maunganui Lifeguard Service

The Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service work hard every summer to prevent drownings at Mount Maunganui Beach, Mauao and Tauranga Harbour. It received $6,176 to purchase a new engine for their inflatable rescue boat (IRB) as the current one is over six years old. The service provides over 5,000 volunteer hours patrolling beaches every year and the IRB is essential in providing services to the public as it is the primary emergency response vessel, used in the majority of water based rescues. Due to the nature of use and environment the boats are used in, the engine and hulls need to be replaced every five years to remain safe and reliable. The grant from the Mazda Foundation means they can replace the IRB’s engine and continue to safely help the Mount Maunganui community in time for summer.

June 2014 Recipients
Sistema Whangarei

Sistema Whangarei – Toi Akorangi is a community-based initiative offering an after school, in-school and holiday orchestral program. The organisation has been granted $6,717 to purchase new instruments for the children. The organisation provides a social development program by providing opportunities for children through orchestral music, such as building self-esteem and learning to work as a team. The organisation works with children living in low-income households and all aspects of the program are provided free of charge. It provides children with a way to see that anything is possible for themselves and their whanau. With the grant it can continue lending instruments to their students, teaching them important virtues such as care and responsibility. The service is now able to continue free of charge, making sure there are no financial barriers for families wanting to take part.

June 2014 Recipients
West Coast Riding for the Disabled

West Coast Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is a Hokitika based organisation that provides therapeutic horse riding for children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities. They have been gifted $8,950 to resurface the riding arena and horse yards. The arena is currently very hard and stony with poor drainage making it difficult to use in its current state. The grant from the Mazda Foundation will enable the facilities to be significantly improved. Riding therapy provides many physical benefits such as improved circulation, balance, coordination and mobility, and also emotional cognitive benefits in a unique form that is fun and exciting. Contact with horses is a powerful experience, and the strong bond between the horse and rider has a profound, uplifting effect on people.

March 2014 Recipients
Hayley Milliner

Six year old Pukekohe resident, Hayley Milliner, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2010, and a year later, coeliac disease. Hayley’s family have been granted $3,000 from the Mazda Foundation to purchase a Continuous Glucose Meter (CGM), which tracks her glucose levels. The CGM works alongside her current insulin pump regime and enables Hayley’s parents to make critical adjustments to her insulin pump allowing better quality of life and avoiding hypoglycaemic episodes. Hayley loves school but when her glucose is out of the desired range it can have implications on her learning. The CGM will help to keep her glucose within her optimum range, improving her concentration.

March 2014 Recipients
NZ Epilepsy Assist Dogs Trust

NZ Epilepsy Assist Dog Trust – is very deserving of a substantial $15,000, an amount rarely gifted in a single grant. Based in Auckland, but assisting across the country, NZ Epilepsy Assist Dogs train and provide dogs to people with severe epilepsy. After years of rigorous training the puppies develop into very special creatures with the ability to assist their owners to lead happier and safer lives both at home and in public. The grant will cover the expense of training and care for one puppy throughout the entire programme – a very substantial and expensive process, which results in only a small number of puppies undergoing training. It is a huge task to prepare one of these puppies for a new home and they change the lives of people with epilepsy. The dogs provide companionship and independence to their owner, while keeping them safe when having a seizure and in some instances preventing them all together.

March 2014 Recipients
Davarah Williams

The Mazda Foundation helped Matauri Bay individual, Davarah Piheme-Williams, who can now live life on the white sandy beaches surrounding her home thanks to funding to purchase a beach wheelchair. Eleven year old Davarah Piheme-Williams has cerebral palsy and is dependent on full-time care. Her family has been granted $5,619, so that they can purchase a ‘Sandcruiser’, enabling her to access the beach. The ‘Sandcruiser’ wheelchair will allow Davarah to be included in family and local community life. The grant means Davarah is now able to spend summers on the beach with her brothers and go on school trips to the coast.

March 2014 Recipients
Challenge 2000 Trust

Challenge 2000, a Wellington youth development organisation has received $2,000 to purchase building materials for their program where troubled youth participate in small building projects. Many of the youth who take part in this program are out of education, or close to exclusion, and lack routine, focus and self confidence. The program initially depended on donated timber and borrowed tools but thanks to the grant from the Mazda Foundation, the organisation can purchase these resources themselves and offer a more sustainable program, teaching skills such as basic carpentry, planning, and maths as well as work ethic and teamwork. Examples of completed projects are picnic tables, dog kennels and doll houses, some of which are then donated to other local community organisations.

March 2014 Recipients
Garden to Table Trust

Garden to Table Trust, an environment and educational organisation based in Auckland, has been granted $1,141.85 to purchase a laminator so they could provide laminated recipe cards, along with laminated planting and harvesting guides for each school garden. Garden to Table work with schools across the country to develop a hands-on programme that engages children in their environment, learning the skills needed to feed themselves and make food a positive part of their lives. The grant from the Mazda Foundation will allow the trust to provide schools across New Zealand with recipes, as well as planting and harvesting guides that can be protected from damage and be used across a number of class groups. Through these recipes children are introduced to new words and concepts in the instructions every week, as well as developing measuring skills and food handling techniques as they cook up food they have harvested from the school garden.

March 2014 Recipients
Stokes Valley Playcentre

Stokes Valley Playcentre and the Foundation for Youth Development has received $1,472.30 to purchase two new landing mats to be placed under swings frames to keep the children safe. Last year the centre had to throw away two landing mats as they were beyond repair. The Playcentre aims to provide a variety of challenges for all ages, abilities and skills with safe fun play being at the forefront. The mats the centre currently uses are unsuitable for its obstacle course and staff have had to compromise on the activities that they can offer the children that attend. Thanks to the Mazda Foundation the Playcentre can go back to providing challenging and safe activities for the children.