To help us continue our daily work in building a brighter future for the Rotorua and Taupō District communities. Our costs are kept to an absolute minimum. Trustees generously volunteer their time and we employ two part-time staff to manage our day-to-day operations. Together with our donors, we want to see our local communities thrive and this is one way we can work together to ensure this happens.
Allan and Jan Sewell established this Fund in 2013 to support charitable purposes primarily within the Rotorua District.
Established by Geyser Trustees in 2012, the Geyser Arts Fund represents donations from individuals, organisations and businesses in the Rotorua and Taupo Districts who want to contribute towards a permanent legacy for the benefit of these communities to engage with and participate in disciplines of art.
Ken Bannan and Penny Jago established the Bannan Science Fund in 2015. The Fund provides an annual award for educational purposes for students (including adults) residing or having family links in disadvantaged areas of the Central Plateau region, who could not otherwise afford to continue their education, to study Science – Pure or Applied. Applicants must have completed their secondary school education or be in their final year of secondary school.
Support services provided by the Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust and the Waikato Rural Support Trust benefit from the Rural Support Fund established in 2019. Farming can be stressful and the Rural Support Trusts are here to help. They are farming people who understand the challenges of rural life. They know from experience that weather, finances, relationships and work pressures can all mount up – and their support is free and confidential.
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) s a children’s mentoring programme focused on creating brighter futures for Rotorua children through long term, meaningful relationships with a positive adult role model/ tuakana. BBBS’s kaupapa is all about using these relationships to build, strengthen and promote positive relationships between children, youth, adults, whanau, the local community and iwi. Adults (tuakana) volunteer one hour a week for a year to spend quality time with their Little Brother or Little Sister (teina) doing activities they both enjoy.
People who live in the Lake Taupo area with chronic long-term disability will benefit from this Fund established by Colin Cockburn in 2019. Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at a young age, Colin lived for almost another 50 years, astounding medics. He enjoyed a good quality life in his beloved home in Taupo.
Disabled people and classical musicians in the Rotorua and Taupo District communities will benefit from this Fund, established in 2019 by Jenny McDonald to honour the memory of her late husband, Colin.
Dave and Bernadine’s passion was to give young people the opportunity to excel by developing an interest and passion in a supported way. Another passion was music, which led them to gift this putea to the Western Heights High School Music Department in 2016 to assist with the purchase and maintenance of musical equipment.
Dementia Lakes Charitable Trust established this Fund in 2018 as part of its long term funding strategy. People living with dementia are some of the most vulnerable in our community, and it’s important they get the services and support they need. Dementia Lakes provides individualised support for anyone living in the Lakes Te Whatu Ora region – effectively the Rotorua, Taupo and Turangi areas, adapting after a dementia diagnosis.
The Family of Dr W Stanley Wallis, OBE, established this Fund in 2024 to recognise their grandfather’s, great grandfather’s and great, great grandfather’s legacy as Superintendent of King George V Military Hospital in Rotorua (now Rotorua Hospital) and during the Second World War, Superintendent of a convalescent hospital for servicemen in Rotorua known as Queen Eliabeth Hospital (QE Health today). Distributions from the Fund will be used to benefit local students studying nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy or a related degree or course in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We need strong leadership in our local communities. Trustees established the Education and Leadership Fund in 2017 to provide education and leadership opportunities for talented individuals and organisations in the Rotorua and Taupo District communities. Gifts from the Fund will be directed at charitable purposes which support opportunities to build our leaders of tomorrow and to fund initiatives which strengthen the capacity of the local voluntary sector.
Mary Irvine established this Fund in 2014, the income from which is directed at charitable purposes and projects which advance the protection, promotion and preservation of the natural environment, flora and fauna of the Rotorua and Taupo District communities.
Rotorua and Districts NZ Riding for the Disabled established their Fund in 2016. The annual income from the Fund will be used in a number of ways, including for the benefit of riders to assist them reach their potential and to keep the horses fit and healthy.
In 2008, Shirley Grumitt established this Fund to honour the memory of her sister, Barbara Grumitt, who had passed away in 2005. The Fund provides assistance to students at Rotorua Boys’ High School to be used for training in speech and drama. The wishes of the donor are that the scholarship should go to a senior student at the school who is from a local and preferably financially disadvantaged family.
Rotorua businessman Harold Holmes set up the Harold Holmes Student Grant Trust in 1991 to assist local high school students with the cost of their tertiary studies. Following a request from trustees in 2012, Geyser took over the management of the Fund. Harold Holmes’ family remains involved in selecting the recipients of the scholarships.
In 2012, Gabby Molloy established the James Dodds Memorial Fund to honour her long-time partner, Dodzy, and to create a lasting gift in his memory. The income is to be applied to maintaining and developing community facilities for mountain biking and associated sporting and leisure activities in the Rotorua district.
Established in 2007, the income is to be applied to singing scholarships to be awarded as prizes in singing competitions primarily held in Rotorua but also elsewhere in New Zealand. The Fund currently provides the second prize in the New Zealand Aria, one of Australasia’s most prestigious singing competitions, which has been held annually in Rotorua for the past 70 years and helped launch the careers of some of New Zealand’s finest young opera singers.
John Paul College established this Alumni Fund in 2015. The annual income will be used for the benefit of students.
John and Marie de Vantier established their untagged Fund in February 2024. They believe Geyser Trustees will know where funds are most needed within the Rotorua, Murupara and / or Taupō Districts now or at any time in the future.
In 2007, the Kaharoa Kōkako Trust formed the “Kōkako Nest Egg” Fund. Renamed Kaharoa Kōkako Conservation Fund in 2015, it was transferred to the Geyser Community Foundation to manage in perpetuity. Income earned on the capital is made available to the Kaharoa Kōkako Trust to support the work they do to protect kōkako in the Kaharoa forest.
Jan Bolton, who lived in Kaingaroa Village for a number of years, established the Kaingaroa Roading Fund in 2010. The Fund provides an annual scholarship for educational purposes for residents of Kaingaroa Village, Minginui, Ruatahuna and Murupara, or the immediate surrounding areas, who have completed their secondary school education or who are in their final year of secondary school.
The Karen and Greg Hunt Fund was established in 2011 to mark the donors’ 25th wedding anniversary. Each year a student attending Western Heights High School receives funding to help them undertake a personal development activity such as Outward Bound or a voyage on the Spirit of Adventure.
Well-known, highly respected and long-time youth advocate, Laurie Durand tragically lost his life in March 2022. With the support of Rotorua Trust and Te Waiariki Purea Trust, Laurie’s wife, Barbara Maclennan and whanau established this Fund to honour his memory. Distributions from the Fund will support kaupapa based youth work practice and practitioners, primarily in the Rotorua District community.
Established in 2015, distributions from the Fund support the charitable work of the Legion of Frontiersmen H Troop in the Taupō District community.
Life Education Trust Rotorua established the Life Education Trust Rotorua Fund in 2010 as part of its long term funding strategy. Life Education reaches all new entrants and students up to Year 8 in schools in the Rotorua District. The children are taught about the body, healthy eating and in the later years, what happens to the body if the wrong substances are put into it.
The Malcolm Lilico PF Olsen Fund was established in 2013. The annual distribution is to be allocated to any charitable purpose (or purposes) within Aotearoa New Zealand, specifically (but not limited to) educational and environmental enhancement projects.
Annual distributions from the Margriet Theron Fund are made to the Rotorua Multicultural Council to assist migrants in the Rotorua District community, and to Speech New Zealand to provide speech and drama scholarships to people in the Rotorua and Taupō District communities.
Michael Pilaar, a talented musician died from Melanoma in June 2017, aged 19.
The Pilaar family established this Fund to honour the memory of Michael and to assist young musicians in the Rotorua and Taupo districts reach their goals. Michael was a great communicator who was able to reach people through music. He had a great sense of fun, passion and enjoyment, and wanted to make a positive difference in their lives. The family foster this spirit in other young musicians by providing financial assistance.
Children and adults who have special needs or are physically or intellectually disabled and/or their family or caregiver who live in the Rotorua District community benefit from this Fund which Judy Keaney established in 2014.
The Norman Steele Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by Norman’s son, Greg and his wife, Bridget Steele in 2017 as a legacy to Norman’s interests. A Founding Director of Ngati Whakaue Tribal Lands, Norman was passionate about education and the value of science as the way forward to improve personal growth for individuals as well as improving the health of the community. Distributions from the Fund assist students of Te Arawa descent to studying medicine in New Zealand.
In 2021, the Older Persons Community Centre Trust established this Fund to benefit Parksyde, the Community Centre for people aged 55+. The first and only of its kind to be established in New Zealand, Parksyde provides weekly activities, catering for the social, recreational, health and educational needs of older people in the Rotorua District.
Deserving students (including adult students) residing or having family links in the Rotorua District community who could not otherwise afford to continue their academic or practical education will benefit from this Fund established in 2017.
The Reporoa community benefit from this Fund established by the Peter, Joan and Kay Dean Reporoa Educational Trust in 2021.
When the Putaruru Veterinary Club Education Trust wound-up in 2022, they transferred all remaining funds to Geyser to manage on their behalf in perpetuity. The whole of the distribution of the Fund is to be allocated to provide financial assistance to students from the South Waikato District studying veterinary sciences, agriculture or other disciplines that will benefit farming.
Students of families who reside in the Rotorua District and attend local schools, and do not have opportunities to access funding from other grants benefit from this Fund established by Bob Mowbray in 2015 to honour the memory of his late wife, Jacqueline.
Bobbie Griffin loved animals. When Bobbie updated her will in 2010, she established the Roberta and Enid Griffin Fund to honour the memory of her sister, Enid, and to benefit the Rotorua SPCA. Sadly, Bobbie died in 2014. Thanks to her generosity, Rotorua SPCA will continue to receive an ongoing gift year on year, forever.
Disabled sportspeople in the Rotorua and Taupō District communities benefit from this Fund which Barbara Bohm established to honour the memory of her late husband, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Ross Bohm, who passed away in 2011.
In 2012, the five Rotary Clubs in Rotorua jointly established the Rotary Rotorua Hospice Fund to benefit Rotorua Community Hospice. Local Rotarians wanted to provide a long-term commitment to supporting Hospice in Rotorua, not achievable by the individual Clubs.
Rotorua Boys’ High School established this Alumni Fund in 2014. The annual income will be used for the benefit of students.
The Rotorua Fund was established by Geyser Trustees in 2012. It represents donations from individuals, organisations and businesses in the Rotorua district who want to contribute towards a permanent legacy for the benefit of their community.
Established by Geyser Trustees in 2024, funding from the Rotorua First Responders’ Fund will be directed at charitable purposes and projects which support and strengthen First Responders in the Rotorua District community.
Rotorua Girls’ High School established this Alumni Fund in 2014. The annual income will be used for the benefit of students.
The Rotorua Branch of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals established the Rotorua SPCA Fund in 2012 as part of its overall funding strategy for the future. The Society’s goal is to become self-sufficient and have enough money invested to provide an income for the long- term future of Rotorua SPCA.
In 2020, the Rotorua Women’s Club established this Fund to benefit women and women’s groups in the Rotorua District community.
Sam Millward loved his local community. When he updated his will in 2010, Sam established the Sam Millward Fund. In 2014, Sam passed away. Thanks to his generosity, Rotorua St John Ambulance, the local Rescue Helicopter and a Neurological Foundation of Geyser’s choice receive annual gifts from the Sam Millward Fund.
St Chad’s Trust Rotorua Fund was established in 2015. The annual income from the Fund will be used in a number of ways, including for the benefit of St Chad’s clients to assist them to participate more fully in and become independent members of the local community.
The St Faith’s Church Vestry Committee established this Fund in 2015. The annual income from the Fund is used for the general running of the Church, including maintaining the historic, intricately decorated, timber building, which is loved and admired by a growing number of people from New Zealand and around the world.
Taupō Budget Advisory Service provides free and confidential budgeting advice for individuals and families in the Taupo and Turangi District communities. In 2022, Taupō Budget Advisory Service established their fund with Geyser as part of their long-term funding strategy for a stronger and more sustainable future.
Established by Geyser Trustees in 2012, the Taupo Fund represents donations from individuals, organisations and businesses in the Taupo district who want to contribute towards a permanent legacy for the benefit of their community.
Charitable purposes and projects which support and strengthen First Responders in the Taupō District community will benefit from the Taupō First Responders’ Fund established by Geyser Trustees in 2024.
Taupo nui-a-Tia College established this Alumni Fund in 2015. The annual income will be used for the benefit of students.
In 2022, The Taupō School of Music established their fund with Geyser as part of their long-term funding strategy. Established in 1989, Taupō School of Music offers quality small group music lessons that are affordable and accessible to primary and intermediate aged children living in Taupō. Taupō School of Music tutors are experienced, well qualified tutors who inspire all students to play to the best of their ability.
Te Atawhai Aroha Compassionate Communities Rotorua Trust is a not-for-profit group of volunteers working together to build whanau and community preparedness for death, loss and grief. The Trust established this Fund in 2023 as a long-term funding strategy to help enable family led, affordable, eco-friendly funeral / tangihanga.
Local artist, Terry Fergusson established this Fund in 2017 to support emerging artists and writers residing or having family links in the Rotorua District community to study, engage with or participate in Visual or Written Arts, including drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, graphics, architecture, writing and poetry.
Young people from all cultures in the Rotorua District benefit from The John Chadwick Rangatahi Fund. Well-known and respected local lawyer, John Te Manihera Chadwick NZOM died suddenly in Rotorua in 2017. A man of words and music, he worked selflessly for 30 years with community organisations that made a difference for young people. The Chadwick whanau established this Fund to honour his memory with the support of Te Waiariki Purea Trust and the Rotorua Youth Centre Trust.
The Tongariro Memorial Fund is a living legacy to four national park rangers: William Cooper, Keith Blumhardt, Derek White, Marie Williams, and pilot Douglas McKenzie who died in the helicopter crash in the park in December 1982. The Fund was transferred to Geyser in 2015. The annual income is made available to Project Tongariro every year for investment in one of four key areas of focus: biodiversity, education, history or recreation, and enable continued development of projects and programmes in and around Tongariro National Park, World Heritage Area and in the wider Taupō region.
Warrick and Betty Holmes established this Fund in 2018 to support their chosen charities in New Zealand today, and for generations to come.
In 2023, the Family of Ynys Joy Fraser, QSM established this Fund to recognise their mother’s, grandmother’s and great-grandmother’s love of literature, and her life-long work in and contribution to the local community over many decades. Distributions from the Fund will be used for emerging or established poets residing or having family links in the Rotorua District to publish their poetry.
If you know of other individuals, charities or community groups who you think may be interested in setting up a Fund with the Geyser Community Foundation in support of the local community, we would be very happy to speak to them.
Please contact:
Annette Burgess, Executive Officer
Geyser Community Foundation
Tel: 07 349 7496
Email: annette@geysercf.org.nz
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Geyser Community Foundation © 2024
Registered Charity No. CC 21560
