September 2017 Recipients
Kahu Youth Trust

The Kahu Youth Trust has received $2,433.40 for ingredients and supplies to run a 7-week cooking class for young people in the community. The trust which supports youth in creating positive lives, runs programmes throughout the year which encourage young people to learn new skills and exercise their creativity. The weekly cooking classes will teach students how to prep and create common meals and run a kitchen for service.

September 2017 Recipients
Tokanui School

The year 3 and 4 classes at Tokanui School has received $650 to fund a self-sustaining beehive. The beehive will become part of the Southland Schools ‘Enviroschools’ programme and will teach the kids about taking care of the environment as well as the significant role that bees play in the ecosystem. Chairman of the Southland Bee Society and Grandad to one of the students, Murray Christensen, will oversee the maintenance of the beehive and ensure it is producing good honey to sell at the local market.

September 2017 Recipients
St Gerard’s School

St Gerard’s School has received $1,162.50 to help the school develop its music program and offer its students the opportunity to learn to play the ukulele. The grant has allowed the school to purchase 25 ukuleles which will be used in a six-week program, finishing with a final performance to the school and wider community. The school prides itself on its special character, providing children with a safe environment to explore their creativity.

September 2017 Recipients
Balclutha Playcentre

Balclutha Playcentre has received a grant of $799 to purchase a new lap top for the centre. Part of the Otago community for the last 24 years, the playcentre urgently needed to upgrade it’s 9-year-old computer when it died earlier in the year. Balclutha Playcentre has a no fees policy, acting as a not for profit organisation to support struggling families in the area. It will use the new laptop for administrative work.

September 2017 Recipients
Citizens Advice Bureau Napier

The Citizens Advice Bureau has received $2,340.20 which will pay for 15 volunteers from its team to attend a training course on cultural diversity and help them do a better job of welcoming migrants to the area. The team of mostly retirees, from a diverse range of backgrounds, pride themselves on welcoming all who come through the Bureau. The course will help the team communicate effectively with people from different ethnic backgrounds, decrease conflicts and ensure their interactions with new migrants are positive.

September 2017 Recipients
WAI The Women’s Art Initiative

WAI is a collective of women making art as a response to experiences of violence and abuse. They have received $2,011.94 to purchase new art supplies including a printmaking press, paper, rollers and ink. WAI provides support to women who have experienced violence and abuse. The supportive environment helps give the women a voice as well as helps to facilitate discussion. The collective will hold an exhibition in November where the new supplies will be utilised to create a body of artwork for display.

September 2017 Recipients
Raising for Raro Kids

Louise Gainford has received $2,500 to purchase classroom supplies for Rarotongan school children. Passionate about offering everyone an equal chance to education, Louise plans to purchase; stationary, workbooks and storybooks to be shipped over to Rarotonga. Louise also hopes to send over 4000 donated or used storybooks for children of all ages.

September 2017 Recipients
Autism NZ Inc

Autism New Zealand has received a grant of $9,228 to supply 16 of its branches with educational library resources to help people with autism. There are 68,000 people on the autism spectrum in New Zealand and Autism New Zealand empowers these people and their families by providing educational resources and support.

September 2017 Recipients
Parihaka Community Landcare

Parihaka Community Landcare in Whangarei has received $1,570 to purchase 100 rat traps and 100 protective wooden covers to enhance its pest management activities on Parihaka. They are a volunteer group which helps protect the native species in Parihaka by reducing pest populations. Parihaka is a 389 hectare podocarp-broadleaf and kauri forest in the heart of Whangarei and is one of the city’s most recognisable and iconic landmarks. The maunga enjoys a rich cultural history, and is utilised by many sectors of the community, and supports a diverse range of flora and fauna.

September 2017 Recipients
Special Olympics Auckland

Special Olympics Auckland received $3,500 to replace team uniforms to be worn at the 2017 Special Olympics National Summer Games in Wellington. The organisation provides opportunities for people with an intellectual disability to train and compete in a variety of sports. The Special Olympics will be held from 27 November to 1 December and is New Zealand’s largest sports event for people with intellectual disabilities.

September 2017 Recipients
Julia

Julia received $2,500 to go towards training an assistance dog for her disabled daughter, Olivia. Two years ago, Olivia was diagnosed with Autism and Triple X Syndrome making it challenging for her to be in social settings and participate in everyday activities. Olivia received her assistance dog, Nellie, from Assistance Dog New Zealand. Nellie will help her to gain independence, confidence and participate more in the community.

September 2017 Recipients
Franklin Family Support Services

Franklin Family Support Services was granted $763.80 to purchase a chest freezer where they will store donated food to give to struggling families in the Franklin community. The organisation offers a range of support services in the Franklin Community and has noticed an increase in the need for its food parcels.

September 2017 Recipients
CUE Haven Community Trust

CUE Haven Community Trust is a community-led group which is restoring a former dairy farm near the Kaipara Harbour, into a sustainable native forest reserve. The Trust received a $1,911.88 grant to purchase seedlings and plants to increase the biodiversity of the forest with a view to becoming a great habitat and food source for native birds and insects. In the near future, the trust would like to turn the reserve into an education space where students and the community can learn about the native plants, birds, and insects in the reserve.

September 2017 Recipients
Panacea Charitable Trust

Māpura Studios, governed by the Panacea Arts Charitable Trust, is a creative space offering visual arts and art therapy programmes and a positive supportive community for people living with diversity and disability. They received $2,617.20 to purchase art supplies and frames for its weekly visual art and therapy classes. The art classes promote and encourage the self-development and well-being of the artists through the vehicle of creative expression. The ability to offer a wide range of art materials to classes, will allow the studio to cater to the diverse needs of the artists.

September 2017 Recipients
The Operating Theatre Trust

The Operating Theatre Trust aims to make top-quality New Zealand theatre accessible to all children and young people, inspiring in them a love of performing arts. They received $1,500 to cover the cost of sending 40 children from the Kelston Deaf Education Centre to the annual Tim Bray Santa Clause show with an interpreter. The trust has a responsibility to ensure all children have access to theatre and this means fulfilling a specific need for children who may not be able to attend regular theatre productions.

September 2017 Recipients
The New Zealand Dance Advancement Trust

The New Zealand Dance Company, incorporated as The New Zealand Dance Advancement Trust, is a nationally focused contemporary dance company with a vision and purpose to create accessible, inspiring and high calibre dance productions. The trust received $7,304 to fund 24 youth scholarships to the company’s Youth and Community Engagement Programme. The programme offers a range of diverse opportunities for people from five upwards to engage in dance increasing their confidence and a sense of identity, well-being and fitness.

September 2017 Recipients
Rutherford College

Rutherford College in Te Atatu, Auckland, received $2,443.75 to cover the cost of replacing a table saw and materials for the school’s technology department. The previous table saw was over 30 years old and posed a serious health and safety risk to students and teachers. The new and modern saw will give the students a wider range of real world technology experience and be able to perform manoeuvres and tasks the previous saw wasn’t able too.

September 2017 Recipients
Park Estate School

Park Estate School in Papakura, Auckland, received $891.60 to purchase musical instruments for students to use in class. Learning a musical instrument from an early age helps to enhance memory, improve coordination, increase concentration, act as a stress relief and give children a sense of achievement. The decile 1 school will also use the instruments for student performances at various festivals in South Auckland.

September 2017 Recipients
Taranaki Kiwi Trust

Taranaki Kiwi Trust is a charitable trust working across Taranaki to protect Western Brown Kiwi in the wild. The trust received funding of $6,727.50 to replace 130 pest traps so it can provide better protection for kiwis against stoats, the number one killer of kiwi chicks. The kiwi is New Zealand’s iconic national bird, yet they are considered nationally vulnerable and without help and predator control, are likely to be extinct in the wild within two generations.

September 2017 Recipients
Ruel Foundation

The Ruel Foundation, based in Tauranga, is a children’s charity organisation, which provides free medical aid to children living in remote areas of the South Pacific. The foundation received $3,572.75 to replace worn out office equipment in its head office. In New Zealand, the foundation works with the local community to implement its ‘Give A Smile’ programme; raising awareness of children living with Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate and generating positive community interaction. Clefts is a birth defect that affects the development of the lip or palate.

September 2017 Recipients
Papamoa Playcentre

Papamoa Playcentre in the Bay of Plenty, received $1,449 to replace the playcentre’s oven. The current oven at the playcentre is over 20 years old and is starting to pose a safety risk to staff and children. The process of cooking is an essential part of the playcentre’s education, where the children help with the baking. This helps teach them about literacy, numeracy, science and collaboration.

September 2017 Recipients
Te Puke Playcentre

Te Puke Playcentre received $2,397.75 to replace a worn-out shade sail which covers the children’s sandpit. The sandpit at the playcentre is a large focal point for play and the current shade sail has stretched and repeatedly torn, leaving the children exposed to the sun.

September 2017 Recipients
Hamilton North School

Hamilton North School received a $4,496.50 grant to go towards the installation of two gravity chair seats at the school to aid children with sensory processing disorders. One of the learning barriers children with sensory processing disorders such as Retts, Autism and Foetal Alcohol Syndrome face, is their sensory systems are ‘out of sync’ causing them to struggle to focus and learn in class. The gravity chair has contoured layers of foam to give the struggling student a deep pressure squeeze, raising their self-awareness and allowing them to calm down.

September 2017 Recipients
Hamilton North Special School

Hamilton North Special School received $2,892.25 to go towards an adaptive trike for an autistic student. 14-year-old, student Carnation Tairakena, has Autism Spectrum Disorder, resulting in the need for 24/7 care and support around the clock. The adaptive trike will help Carnation gain some independence and increase her physical activity which is linked to improved language skills, sensory modulation and improved mental health.

September 2017 Recipients
Common Unity Project

Common Unity Project in Lower Hutt, runs a non-profit community enterprise, The Beeple Honey Collective, which cares for New Zealand’s struggling bee population, with all honey and profits going back to the community. They received $2,203.26 to purchase the equipment needed to process honey on site at Epuni. The project encourages the community to learn the process of making honey, and runs beekeeping courses and living-wage jobs for local people in need of a new direction.

September 2017 Recipients
Little Dog Barking Theatre Charitable

Little Dog Barking Theatre Charitable received $3,000 to cover the cost of live theatre performances for a number of low-decile schools in the lower North Island. The charity creates quality theatre for children and young people, inspiring in them a love of the performing arts, music and literature. Many low-decile schools are not able to afford theatre performances which contributes to a child’s education and cultural development.

September 2017 Recipients
Kerry Simmons

Kerry Simmons received $2,000 towards life-changing surgery for her three-year-old son Hugo, who lives with Cerebral Palsy. Hugo Simmons from Porirua was born with Spastic Quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy. This means Hugo has limited mobility and tight muscles, causing him pain when he moves. The surgery, which is not available in New Zealand, is called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy and will reduce the tightness in his muscles. Hugo and his family will travel to the US for the surgery.

September 2017 Recipients
Alana Sagar

Alana Sagar from Blenheim received $2,000 towards the research of Pallister Killian Syndrome (PKS) an extremely rare disease which affects her two-year old son, Archie. Currently, Archie is one of three diagnosed with the disease in New Zealand and one of only 200 children diagnosed in the world. PKS is a rare genetic disorder caused by the presence of an abnormal extra chromosome 12 called isochromosome 12p. As a result of the disease, Archie has extremely weak muscle tone, an intellectual disability, cognitive and development delays as well as severe reflux. The grant will go towards Alana’s personal research with the view of raising awareness of the disease within the medical industry.

September 2017 Recipients
Creative Kids

More than 50 young children in the Marlborough region will benefit from a $10,000 grant made to non-profit organisation Creative Kids. The organisation, which provides support for vulnerable children through the use of creative arts, runs a music therapy programme to help children with development problems, speech and motor skill issues, and self-confidence. The creative therapy sessions using music and movement provide an encouraging and fun environment where children can work through their individual needs.

September 2018 Recipients
Upper Hutt Community Youth Trust

The Upper Hutt Community Youth Trust received $1,649 to purchase a water pump for the barista coffee machine in its youth centre as part of its Kickstart Coffee initiative. The initiative trains and gives young people the skills and experience to become qualified baristas. Each coffee that is purchased, kickstarts a dream of employment and achievement for a young person at the same time as supporting quality youth work happening in the local community.

September 2017 Recipients
SPAN Charitable Trust – Operating as SkillWise

SPAN Charitable Trust is a Christchurch-based organisation which supports over 180 intellectually-disabled adults to achieve independence and encourage participation in the community. The trust received $2,875 towards purchasing eight café tables for a client cafeteria at SkillWise, which is used as a central hub for the organisation. The trust lost the majority of its equipment and facilities in the 2011 Christchurch Earthquakes, and have only recently been given the all clear to move back into the city.

September 2017 Recipients
ParaFed Canterbury

ParaFed Canterbury provides sport and recreational opportunities to people living with physical disabilities in the Canterbury Region. They received funding of $3,620 to help implement the ParaFed School Boccia programme in schools. Boccia is a Paralympic Sport which is similar to indoor bowls or pentanque. The programme is designed to help improve skills and confidence for students wanting to compete in Canterbury Primary School Boccia tournament.

September 2017 Recipients
Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust

Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust, in the Waikato, received $2,699 to purchase a new projector used for educational sessions. The trust works to restore the Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari into a functioning predator-free ecosystem for the wider community to enjoy. It runs one of the largest environmental education programmes in the Waikato, aimed at educating children in the community about the importance of looking after the environment.

September 2017 Recipients
Firth Primary School

Firth Primary School, in Matamata, received $230 to purchase Taiaha Sticks to use for Kapa Haka practises and performances. The school incorporates Kapa Haka into its teachings which aims to develop the student’s skills in self-expression, creativity, motor skills and team work.

September 2017 Recipients
Masina Boatwright

Masina and her 11-year-old son, Judge Boatwright, have received $2,719 to purchase a specialised trike. Judge has down syndrome among other impairments and a modified trike will help him integrate into his community and join his family when they bike to the park. Trikes NZ will provide a custom trike for Judge complete with mountain bike tyres so he can ride any terrain and an attachment handle so his family is able to assist when he gets tired. Being able to get out into the community on his trike will increase his socialisation, and help Judge with the life skills some of us take for granted.

June 2017 Recipients
Reece Waters

Seventeen-year old Auckland student Reece Waters, who has type 1 diabetes, received $5,060 to replace his insulin pump. As a result of being diabetic, Reece’s pancreas has stopped working, meaning the insulin pump will act as a replacement, ensuring food is converted into fuel for his body. Reece’s journey with diabetes has inspired him to help others and pursue a career in health and fitness upon leaving high school at the end of the year.

June 2017 Recipients
Discovery Foundation

The Discovery Foundation received $1,816.97 for a new laptop and software to help extend its programmes to include primary aged children through to teenagers. The non-for-profit charity provides young people with the skills, tools and strategies to help them deal with life’s challenges and encouraging them to live their life to the full. The foundation runs 4-6 programmes a year for younger children and their families, and the new laptop and software will be used to improve these programmes.

June 2017 Recipients
The Operating Theatre Trust

The Operating Theatre Trust received $1,500 to take 40 children from Kelston Deaf Education Centre to a sign language interpreted performance of Mrs Wishy-Washy by Joy Cowley. The theatre ran similar sign language interpreted performances earlier this year and the demand was so great they wanted to offer the performances to more children. The project directly aligns with the trusts purpose of making theatre accessible to all children and to foster a love for theatre, literature and the arts in children aged between three and eight. These shows also fill a specific need for children that require special accessible performances so they can have an enriching and fun theatre experience too.

June 2017 Recipients
Kramer Hoeflich

Auckland’s Kramer Hoeflich, who was left disabled after an accident five years ago, received $2,743.97 to purchase a new laptop to support his initiative to help young people facing disabilities. After becoming wheelchair bound due to his accident, Kramer suffered from low self-esteem, depression and isolation and came across other young people suffering in the same way he did. This sparked an idea in Kramer, and over the past 5 years, has dedicated his life to support young people, particularly in the Pasifika community, through their disabled journey. Kramer is involved in a number of youth engagement groups and workshops, and the laptop will greatly assist with the day to day operations and activities.

June 2017 Recipients
Graham Rusbatch

Tarana Hanif Munmun, a 20-year-old student who is confined to a wheelchair, has received $3,500 to lend her a financial “helping hand” as she studies an engineering degree. Graham and Ingrid Rusbatch, friends of Tarana, applied for the grant on her behalf. They met one day when Graham helped Tarana and a friend who were having trouble with her wheelchair. It was clear to Graham that the wheel chair needed fixing and he and his wife visited Tarana to do repairs on the wheelchair. They have been friends ever since and the couple have been constantly surprised by her resilient, focussed and caring attitude. The grant will help her achieve the many goals she has at present and in the future.

June 2017 Recipients
Kaukapakapa School

Kaukapakapa School received $1,100 to purchase 25 ukuleles for music lessons and class performances. These instruments will encourage student’s creativity as the school works to provide them with a wide range of skills and experiences. The ukuleles will teach the students basic chords, knowledge of songs and music, as well as develop creativity and encourage participation.

June 2017 Recipients
Delta Community Support Trust

The Christchurch-based trust is dedicated to providing low income and disadvantaged people with life skills to help increase their quality of life. It received $886.65 for a joint project it is doing along with the Community Gardens Project to offer free courses as part of the Grow Your Own Free Lunch Programme. The grant from the Mazda Foundation will go towards kitchen and gardening equipment for the programme which provides gardening and cooking skills to those involved.

June 2017 Recipients
Marlborough Riding for the Disabled

Marlborough Riding for the Disabled received $700 to purchase a new oven for its staff room. The non-profit organisation gives disabled people in the community the opportunity to engage in therapeutic horse riding and horse-related activity. The organisation is run solely by volunteers who provide interaction with horses for people with physical, intellectual, and social challenges. The current oven in the staff room is old and presents a safety risk and it was badly in need of replacing.

June 2017 Recipients
Deaf Aotearoa Holdings Ltd

Deaf Aotearoa received $5,272.08 to purchase 12 video cameras, tripods and memory cards to produce videos that translate everything from current events and civil defence information into sign language. Deaf Aotearoa provides services such as employment assistance and training for deaf people across New Zealand.

June 2017 Recipients
Waihopai Playcentre

Waihopai Playcentre in Invercargill has received $937.25 to fund new equipment for its science and environment area to encourage children to learn as they play and have fun. The family focused centre is run by parents, providing the children with a warm and welcoming environment to enable them to develop into confident independent learners. The grant will allow the centre to buy science equipment, including animal x-rays, electricity kits, eye droppers and beakers so the parents and children can continue exploring and learning together.

June 2017 Recipients
Our Hut Hall Taha Kopa

Our Hut – Tahakopa is a much-loved community space in the Catlins and it has received $499.52 to go towards improving the lighting system inside the building. The poor lighting in the hall means it cannot be used at night, but despite this, the committee has been determined to replace the lights in time to show the first stage of its Our Hut heritage films. The films, which have been made with the help of previous Mazda Foundation grants, detail the history of the Tahakopa Valley. The latest film explores the history of the late Dr Truby King and his work in Tahakopa, including dairy and pig farming. The new lighting will help to draw in visitors to the Hutt to watch the films.

June 2017 Recipients
Pandemonium

Pandemonium, a non-profit group based in Christchurch, aims to educate youth about music, musical instruments and the history of music. It has received $2,016 to go towards replacing a speaker used for performances, and to buy a set of bongo drums. The group previously had to borrow bongo drums for classes and performances, which proved to be unstainable as the demand for shows has grown.

June 2017 Recipients
Waikato Community Hospice Trust

Hamilton-based Waikato Community Hospice Trust offers a free home support service for patients in Hamilton, Cambridge and Ngaruawahia. It received $2,525.40 to purchase four shower chairs for its service. Nurses from the hospice made more than 6000 home visits last year to provide specialised care for patients at a challenging and emotional time in theirs, and their family’s lives. The Hospice Waikato is reliant on community funding to be able to provide these free services and this grant helps it to continue the work it does in the community.

June 2017 Recipients
Hamilton North School

Hamilton North School student Bree Wharehoka, who suffers from a rare neurological disorder, has received a $4,827.70 grant towards a customised trike. Bree has Rhett Syndrome which impacts on her development and means her movement is very limited. She needs to use a wheelchair if she is going further than 200m and the trike will enable her to take part in physical activity that is crucial to her wellbeing. The trike will allow Bree to work towards her goal of building up to 30 minutes of cumulative exercise a day. It will also enable Bree to participate in physical activity at both school and home.

June 2017 Recipients
Whitby Toy Library

Whitby Toy Library has received $920.59 to replace toys that have become unsafe and outdated. The toy library provides toys for hire to families in the Porirua area. This is a great opportunity for families who cannot afford to purchase these toys that aim to improve social, mental and physical development. The grant will allow them to replace many of their toys that are becoming tired and unsafe after 20 years of operation. Without the help of organisations like the Mazda Foundation they would need to increase membership costs which in turn will leave less fortunate families at a disadvantage.

June 2017 Recipients
St James Sea Scouts Group

Wellington’s St James Sea Scouts have received $1886.00 to purchase new spinnaker sails for two of their new custom-built boats. The Scout group has been sailing the Hutt River since 1945 and prior to the purchase of these new boats the oldest in their fleet was 60. The Lower North Island Sea Scouts are hosting the Scouts National Regatta at the end of the year and it is paramount they provide safe boats for their guests to use. Being responsible for supplying boats for scouts as young as 5 during this time it requires the equipment to be safe and sea worthy. The group are naming one of their new boats Zoom-Zoom as a token of their appreciation for the Mazda Foundation grant.

June 2017 Recipients
Kaiden Farmer

A Nelson family has received $3,000 towards purchasing a trike for 10-year-old Kaiden Farmer. Kaiden was born with a chromosomal abnormality which means he requires help with daily activities, including assistance to walk. This also means he is unable to ride a standard bike however Trikes NZ is customising a trike for Kaiden to allow him to participate in bike rides with friends and family, as well as improve his strength, co-ordination and balance in the hope he may be able to walk unassisted very soon.

June 2017 Recipients
Shannon & Districts Playcentre Inc

Shannon & Districts Playcentre has received $1,038.75 to educate children about music and the arts. The grant will allow the parent led facility to purchase everything from costumes and instruments to puppets and puzzles. The multicultural early childhood centre is also using the grant to purchase cultural items that will allow the children to learn more about Maori culture which will build awareness of diversity within the community.

June 2017 Recipients
Central North Island Kindergarten Trust

Central North Island Kindergarten Trust has received $2,000 to help transform Tairua Kindergarten’s grounds into a sustainable learning environment. Their vision is to encourage the children to eat healthily by setting them up with skills to grow their own food and with the knowledge about how to care for it. The grant will go towards purchasing four raised garden boxes where the children will plant and grow their own fruit and vegetables.

June 2017 Recipients
Rotorua SPCA

The Rotorua SPCA has received $242.61 to go towards purchasing a microchip scanner that will enable them to identify lost or stray pets and reunite them with their families. This vital piece of equipment will allow the SPCA to quickly notify owners of their lost pets and save money by reducing the time an animal is kept in the shelter. The Rotorua SPCA is the first point of call for all animal welfare issues in the area and any equipment that can free up time and resources will allow them to help more animals in need.

June 2017 Recipients
Greta Valley Village Residents Association

Greta Valley Village residents in North Canterbury received $2,500 to help transform the Tipapa Stream Reserve into a thriving recreational area. The residents are working to clear the reserve of weeds to replant native trees and improve the health of Tipapa Stream. The grant will go towards signage and seating in the area which will encourage the residents to use and enjoy the reserve.

June 2017 Recipients
The Boyle Village Conservation Group

The Boyle Village Conservation Group in Canterbury received $3,167.50 to buy pest traps to help complete an important phase in its Bring Back the Birds campaign. The grant will cover the purchase and installation of 21 new stoat, rat and possum traps in an effort to encourage native birdlife to return to the area on a remote part of State Highway 7 on the way to Lewis Pass. Wildlife in the area is already flourishing since the campaign started in 2015 but the grant will allow them to control a larger area.

June 2017 Recipients
Charlie McKendry

Six-year-old Auckland boy Charlie McKendry received $4,301 for his very own specialised sports buggy. Charlie is a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy who also suffers from epilepsy and his new buggy will allow him more freedom to enjoy the outdoors. The new trike will give Charlie independence, enable him to exercise, increase his mobility and enjoy activities with his family.

June 2017 Recipients
Project Jonah

Environmental group Project Jonah, received $549 to purchase a camera to document the emergency aid they provide to stranded and injured whales throughout NZ. The new camera will allow them to capture photos of the dorsal fins of stranded whales. This unique identification method plays a significant role in the studies researchers are doing right around New Zealand to understand why mass whale stranding occurs. The volunteers work alongside Department of Conservation to provide around the clock emergency aid to the hundreds of whales that get stranded every year.

June 2017 Recipients
Youth Search and Rescue Tauranga

Youth Search and Rescue Tauranga, a volunteer organisation that equips youths with skills to navigate New Zealand’s outdoor environment, has received $1,000. The organisation trains youth extensively teaching them first aid, water safety and leadership skills. The group, who volunteer at a range of events such as The Papamoa Hills Night Walk for breast cancer and “The Goat Race”, will use the grant to keep their first aid kits stocked for the next 10 months.

June 2017 Recipients
The Northland Golf Club

The Save the Kereru project at the Northland Golf Club has received $9,852.55 to plant native plants and shrubs around the golf course. The project aims to encourage the Kereru, New Zealand’s native wood pigeon, back into the area after a noticeable decline in the number of birds. The bush management project will not only entice birds back, but also control pests and weeds.

June 2017 Recipients
Georgina Allen

Six-year-old Georgina Allen and her family have received $2,000 towards life changing surgery in the US that will dramatically improve her quality of life. Georgina suffers from a rare form of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia and the surgery will help to treat the highly “spastic” nerves in her spine. As Georgina grows older, she is becoming increasingly aware of her disability and this surgery will help her lead a more normal life. The surgery Georgina needs is not available in New Zealand so the family is traveling to St Louis Children’s Hospital where Georgina will undergo two major operations.

June 2017 Recipients
The Cerebral Palsy Society of NZ

The Cerebral Palsy Society of NZ received $5,727 to purchase two trikes for its getOnYourTrike programme. The programme gives children with cerebral palsy the chance to have access to a customised trike, which allows them to exercise, increases their mobility and most importantly, gives them their independence. The programme has recently grown in popularity and the new trikes will significantly reduce the current waiting list.

March 2017 Recipients
Young and Hungry Arts Trust

Young and Hungry Arts Trust received $355 from the Mazda Foundation to purchase a GPS navigational system and portable speakers for their annual national tour of secondary schools. For the past 23 years the Young and Hungry Arts Trust have mentored young people aged from 15 to 25 in all aspects of theatre. The 2017 national tour theme will voice what it is like to be in the “out-groups” and the “in-groups” – and is designed to open up discussion about the labels people identify with or are given.

March 2017 Recipients
Surf Life Saving Northern Region

Surf Life Saving Northern Region received $523.25 to replace four safety helmets for its lifeguards, who often operate in extreme conditions around hazardous coastal areas. To date lifeguards in the Northern region have carried out 239 rescues, 104 searches, 738 first aid treatments, and 28,653 preventative actions involving 92,396 members of the public. The helmets are an essential piece of safety equipment that will help make sure the lifeguards can carry out their duties without fear of injury.

March 2018 Recipients
Brainwave Trust Aotearoa

The Brainwave Trust Aotearoa reviews and shares the latest scientific findings on child brain development with parents, teachers and social workers. The Trust has received $7,800 for a Customer Relationship Management system. As its database continues to grow, the system will allow the organisation to communicate more efficiently with parents and caregivers.

March 2017 Recipients
Tauranga District Riding for the Disabled

Tauranga District Riding for the Disabled provides a unique form of therapy called ‘Hippotherapy’ (Hippo meaning horse), which includes riding, horsemanship and vocational skills. The organisation received $1,769.75 to purchase 12 coloured plastic poles, arena letter markers and new jump stands to replace old equipment. The plastic coloured poles will improve the riding sessions, as they act as visual cues and help structure the lessons. The large letter markers provide clear and comprehensive targets, and the jump stands help create more teaching opportunities and challenges for the riders.

March 2017 Recipients
Safe Surfer

Safe Surfer, a Bay of Plenty organisation dedicated to educating children about cyber safety, received $2,000 to create a kid’s book about staying safe online. The charitable trust provides families with resources such as filtering interfaces (IoT), apps, and educational advice to help ensure people and children are safe when they are on the internet at home, school and work. The main aim of the children’s book is to teach young kids about the dangers of pornography and to “surf between the flags” when they are online.

March 2017 Recipients
Otorohanga Riding for the Disabled

Otorohanga Riding for the Disabled received $816 to purchase new jump stands to be used to take riders to the next level in their riding sessions. Riding and interaction with horses is therapeutic for people with disabilities as it develops independence and self-worth. The jump stands will allow the organisation to advance some of their long-time riders and let them achieve goals they never thought possible.

March 2017 Recipients
Lisa Jessop

Lisa Jessop from Hamilton requires driving lessons so she can get her driver’s licence to transport her three-year-old daughter, Anita, who is living with a life-limiting illness. She received $700 to cover 10 lessons, which will help her on her way to getting her full licence which will greatly enhance her daughter’s quality of life. Anita was nominated for the Mazda Foundation grant by the Waikato Hospice who provide palliative care and support for children through their journey.

March 2017 Recipients
Auckland & District Pipe Band

The Auckland & District Pipe Band received $2,442 for acoustic panelling to help improve the quality of its rehearsal space at Victoria Park. While the band practice outside when the weather allows, the acoustic dampening panels will create an ideal space to conduct practices indoor, rain or shine. The band rely on community funding to offer performances to the local community and the Mazda Foundation grant will help ensure it is able to grow and be sustainable in the future.

March 2017 Recipients
The Actors’ Program

The Actors’ Program, a central Auckland course run by some of New Zealand’s top actors and teachers, has received $3,394 to replace its old office computers with two new ones. The program is unique because it’s main aim is to give its actors the tools they need to make it in the competitive stage and screen industry. The new computers will help improve administration support and ensure it creates acting courses which are exciting and industry focused.

March 2017 Recipients
The No.19 Squadron Air Training Corps

The No.19 Squadron Air Training Corps from Point Chevalier in Auckland received $2,299.99 to purchase 10 Macpac rain jackets as part of its ongoing focus on providing top quality clothing for its cadets. The squadron is building up a supply of clothing to ensure the safety of cadets when they’re participating in outdoor activities and training exercises. The new rain jackets will be part of a wardrobe of clothing that will be loaned out to cadets who may not be able to buy or borrow the gear they need.

March 2017 Recipients
Sebastian Bray

Two-year-old Sebastian Bray from Auckland lives with Down Syndrome, which affects his ability to process audio tones, delaying his speech and language development. He received $3,000 to purchase The Listening Program, a specially designed auditory intervention system that uses music and sound as listening therapy, that will help Sebastian at a critical time in his development. Once Sebastian has finished using The Listening Program it will be donated to not-for-profit organisations to be available to other children with Down Syndrome.

March 2017 Recipients
Coversham Toy Library

Coversham Toy Library in Dunedin received $944.66 to purchase a range of sensory and toddler music toys, to provide children with a basic understanding of touch, sight, sound and movement. The library supplies toys to around 230 children in the local community, and the new sensory toys will be an important resource, particularly for children with learning difficulties and special needs. Children with learning difficulties often have issues developing hand-eye co-ordination, motor skills, conversation skills and social interaction. The toys will greatly help these children, and others in the community, with brain development, particularly in the areas of language, reading and social skills.

March 2017 Recipients
The Spinal Cord Society New Zealand

The Spinal Cord Society New Zealand received $1,782 to purchase office supplies to continue their work to discover a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. The grant will cover the cost of a new work station, including a computer, desk and office chair, for a research technician who is returning from maternity leave. It also means the Type 1 Diabetes Stem Cell Research Project team will have two technicians working to help find a cure for the disease. New Zealand ranks in the top 10-percent of countries with the highest risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the world, and allowing two research technicians to work full-time will help progress the research at a much faster rate, and get the organisation closer to finding a cure.

March 2017 Recipients
Jason Matthews

Auckland resident, Jason Matthews, received $6,000 this funding round, following a special grant of $10,000 in 2016, to continue his dream of becoming a professional major league baseball player in the USA. The 20-year-old is one of New Zealand’s top young baseball prospects with a junior scholarship at South Eastern Community College, Iowa, USA. But having lost both his parents to cancer when he was six, he struggled financially, with the scholarship only covering half of the costs. The recent grant will help with Jason’s college accommodation costs which will support him on his way to becoming a professional baseball player. In just two years Jason has gone from Counties Manukau softball to travelling the world and attracting the attention of international scouts. His most recent achievement was becoming the youngest position player to make the final roster for the NZ Diamondbacks national team that played at the World Baseball Classic Qualifying Tournament in Sydney.

March 2017 Recipients
Makoura Community Early Childhood Centre

Makoura Community Early childhood centre in Masterton received $991.43 to purchase new outdoor resources for their children’s learning. The not-for-profit centre supports 25 young people from the nearby Wairarapa teen parent unit, and a further 25 children as part of community placements, to support mothers in low socioeconomic areas. The grant will fund an outdoor play area complete with a flowing water channel and barrels with working pumps, encouraging the kids to play using natural resources.

March 2017 Recipients
Stratford Parents Centre

Stratford Parents Centre received $381.97 towards buying art supplies for children who attend their playgroups to learn with and enjoy. Children up to the age of five can attend their playgroup sessions which aim to educate people on bringing up their children through play. The centre’s positive parenting education is a vital part of the community and the grant will replenish the voluntary organisations supplies of paint, brushes, glue, crayons, sensory gel and coloured paper.

March 2017 Recipients
Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust

Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust received $2,244.93 to fund chain reaction collars and mushroom push buttons for the training of mobility dogs. The durable purpose collars help the dogs perform in comfort and the mushroom push buttons are a training tool that teaches the dogs how to open a disabled toilet door. The Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust train highly skilled mobility dogs that enhance the lives of people living with long term physical disabilities by providing independence, confidence and boosting self-esteem. The Mobility dogs are partnered with individuals who are battling conditions such as cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s Disease. The dogs are trained to do tasks like fetch the phone, remove shoes and socks, and loading and unloading a washing machine.

March 2017 Recipients
Anna Lavender

11-year-old Mikey Lavender from Christchurch, who has Downs Syndrome, received $1,399 funding from the Mazda Foundation for a specialised Trike. As a result of his syndrome, Mikey has reduced strength, coordination, balance and finds new activities challenging and difficult. Mikey’s specialised Trike will enable him to build strength and cognitive ability, as well as allow him to go bike riding with his family in the nearby Bottle Lake Forest.

March 2017 Recipients
Sandra Poff

Rorie Poff from Christchurch, who suffers from Severe Haemophilia and Cerebral Palsy, received $2,414 funding to purchase a trike to assist with his movement. The new trike will be Rorie’s main form of transport and is specially designed for him to improve his coordination and remove pain in his knees and joints, which are a side effect of his condition. Rorie currently works with Parefed Christchurch in a swimming development squad, and aspires to one day compete in the Paralympics.

March 2017 Recipients
Christchurch Symphony Orchestra

The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, who performs to more than 120,000 people a year, has received $982 towards music hire for a family performance of Lemony Snickets novel The Composer is Dead. The fun and educational mystery will introduce over 700 parents and children to the wonders of orchestral music. The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra aims to show first-hand how music can be transformational in bringing joy and inspiration to children and adults when they engage in live orchestral music and musicians.

March 2018 Recipients
Tauranga Riding for the Disabled

Tauranga District Riding for the Disabled has received $1,448.98 to purchase equipment for its horses. The grant will go towards replacing old puff pads for under the horses’ saddles and new feed bins and hay bags. Tauranga Riding for the Disabled provide therapy to over 4,500 people dealing with mental and physical disabilities and who are in need of emotional healing and growth, each year.

March 2017 Recipients
Russley School

Russley School incorporates Lego and robots in their schooling to encourage students to learn the basics of robot programming using a computer and Lego robots. They received $3,091 from the foundation to purchase 4 Lego EV3 Robots to update and enhance the programme for current and future students. The programme is offered to students in years 5 through to 8, in which they work in teams to design robots, solve problems and refine their programming to complete more challenging tasks.

March 2017 Recipients
Bikers Against Child Abuse Canterbury

Bikers Against Child Abuse Canterbury received $460 funding towards vests and backpacks (filled with colouring books, pencils and teddy bears), for children in troubled environments. The organisation works alongside local and state officials to help prevent child abuse and create safer environments for children who have been victims of abuse. The backpacks and personalised vests are given to the children so they can feel supported by the organisation at a challenging and difficult time of their lives.

March 2017 Recipients
The Operating Theatre Trust

Takapuna’s Operating Theatre Trust has received $1,500 for a project to stage two special sign language performances of The Great Piratical Rumbustification for 40 students from the Kelston Deaf Education Centre. The theatre ran similar sign language interpreted performances last year and the demand was so great they wanted to offer the performances to more children. The project directly aligns with the trusts purpose of making theatre accessible to all children and to foster a love for theatre, literature and the arts in children aged between three and eight. These shows also fill a specific need for children that require special accessible performances so they can have an enriching and fun theatre experience too. The performances will be interpreted by New Zealand Sign Language Interpreter Zana Paraha.

March 2017 Recipients
Bayview Primary School

The “Bee Boys” from Bayview School received a $2,105.68 grant to set up a beehive for their school. The Bee Boys have been learning about the life cycle and habitats of bees at school and how they are endangered and wanted to do something to help. The Bees will also aid the growth of the school orchard and gardens, due to the bees pollinating the flowers. A bee keeper will assist them with the project and teach them how to care for the bees and the hive once it is up and running. They also plan to bottle the honey produced from the honey comb and give it away to school families and the local community.

March 2017 Recipients
North Rodney Blue Light Ventures

North Rodney Blue Light Ventures has received $1,528.90 to purchase 30 branded tops for volunteers to wear at their Blue Light camps and programmes. More than 1500 young people in the Rodney community benefit from their volunteer-run programmes each year. The trusts main aim is to reduce youth crime, improve community safety and build a positive partnership between youth and police. The charity and community policing youth programme has run drug, alcohol and violence free activities in the local community for the past 20 years.

March 2017 Recipients
Dingle Foundation Canterbury

Hornby High School students have received a $3,000 grant to replant an area of native bush that was destroyed in the Port Hills Fires. The grant will go towards purchasing native trees for Victoria Park reserve that was burnt in the fires. The initiative is led by the Dingle Foundation Canterbury, whose programmes are designed to support youth in community-led projects and encourage those to give something back to their community.

March 2017 Recipients
New Zealand Conservation Trust

The New Zealand Conservation Trust Kiwi Breeding Centre in Christchurch received $3,704 to replace vinyl flooring and purchase an instant hot water unit for its kiwi incubation room. The vinyl floor in the incubation room helps to maintain bio-security in the area and ensures that there are no contaminants passed onto either the kiwi eggs or chicks, while the hot water unit will be a valuable resource to make sure all equipment is sterilised. The trust is expecting approximately 60 to 80 chicks through the facility this season and the new equipment is important to ensure the best bio-security practices are in place to protect the chicks and prevent any unwanted bacteria entering the kiwi breeding area.

March 2017 Recipients
Life Education Trust

The Life Education Trust Rodney has received $7,940 to purchase 6,300 workbooks to help children learn about everything from self-esteem to food and nutrition. Together with their mascot, Harold the Giraffe, the trust aims to educate primary school children in the Rodney District to make healthy choices and tackle issues around alcohol, drugs and bullying. The workbooks are an essential tool that allows the children to take what they have learnt in the programme and continue to make informed decisions at home.