Community grants top $168,000
More than $168,000 in funding has been allocated to 50 community groups by Masterton District Council’s Awards and Grants committee, following a total of 60 applications to the Community Wellbeing and Community Events funds.
Committee Chair Cr Tim Nelson said requests for funding had been more than three times the available budgets.
“Each year, this is a tough but rewarding job for the committee,” he said.
“Consideration of applications is always careful and thoughtful, and followed very useful presentations by many applicants. We are mindful that these funds come from ratepayers in a difficult economic environment.
“It is great to see the good work that continues to be done in our community, and we look forward to seeing the results of the support these grants provide.”
Details of grants are:
Community Wellbeing Grant
There were 39 applications received requesting funding of $332,838 with a budget of $101,042 available for allocation. An amount of $1,158 was allocated from the Community Events Fund budget to cover these allocations. The committee heard from 26 presenters on 3 September 2025.
The following grants were allocated:
Organisation | Project Description | Allocation |
Access Radio Wairarapa Charitable Trust | Funding towards operating expenses. | $3,000 |
Alzheimers Wairarapa Incorporated | Funding towards the Out & About and Iona Day programmes. | $3,000 |
Cobblestones Trust | Funding towards operating expenses. | $1,000 |
Come Sew With Me Working Vintage Sewing Machine Museum | Funding towards operating expenses. | $2,500 |
Good Bitches Trust | Funding towards the Baking it Better programme. | $1,500 |
He Kahui Wairarapa Incorporated | Funding towards the Mobile Marae. | $2,000 |
Hōkai Tahi Charitable Trust | Funding towards operating expenses. | $2,500 |
Hospice Wairarapa Community Trust Board | Funding towards the Biographies : Connecting Through Storytelling project. | $2,000 |
Kia Hakinakina Wairarapa | Funding towards the Raise A Village programme of play, physical activity, sport and recreation. | $4,000 |
Little Bundles Wairarapa | Funding towards creating little bundles packs for babies and children in need. | $500 |
Mahi Tahi Tatou Charitable Trust | Funding towards operating expenses. | $4,000 |
Masterton Community Toy Library | Funding towards rent. | $2,000 |
Masterton District Brass Band | Funding towards the Senior Band and Learner’s programme. | $10,000 |
Masterton Mens Shed Incorporated | Funding towards the purchase of an automated external defibrillator. | $2,000 |
Masterton Young Citizens Club Incorporated | Funding towards operating expenses. | $8,000 |
Motuoru Trust | Funding towards expenses for the Youth Development and Mentoring programmes. | $1,000 |
Netball Wairarapa Incorporated | Funding towards upgrading the lighting at the Wairarapa Trust House Netball Centre | $4,000 |
People First NZ Incorporated – Ngā Tāngata Tuatahi | Funding towards operating expenses. | $1,000 |
Ranfurly Club Incorporated | Funding towards operating expenses. | $2,000 |
Riding for the Disabled Association Wairarapa Group Incorporated | Funding towards the purchase of a new tractor for the care and maintenance of the riding facilities. | $2,500 |
Shear History Trust | Funding towards operating expenses. | $10,000 |
SPCA (Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) | Funding towards operating expenses. | $7,000 |
Wairarapa Citizens Advice Bureau Incorporated | Funding towards operating expenses. | $2,000 |
Wairarapa Dragon Boat Club Incorporated | Funding towards the purchase of two dragon boats. | $2,000 |
Wairarapa Filipino Society | Funding for the biannual Health and Wellbeing Through Sports programme. | $2,000 |
Wairarapa Road Safety Council | Funding to support the Wairarapa Driver Mentor Programme. | $10,000 |
Wairarapa Youth Charitable Trust | Funding towards two programmes; Wairarapa Boxing Academy and Wairarapa CounterPunch. | $8,000 |
Wairarapa Youth Orchestra | Funding for sectional workshops and tutor fees for the Masterton students of the Orchestra. | $1,700 |
Youthline Central North Island Incorporated (Wairarapa Branch) | Funding towards the Thrive (Hauora Hinengaro Pai-Oranga Mental Health and Wellbeing) programme. | $1,000 |
TOTAL | $102,200 |
Community Events Fund
There were 21 applications received requesting funding of $214,018 with a budget of $67,100 available for allocation. The committee heard from 14 presenters on 3 September 2025.
The following grants were allocated:
Organisation Club or Individual | Event | Allocation |
Age Concern Wairarapa Incorporated | Ageing with Attitude Expo 2025 | $2,000 |
Alzheimers Wairarapa Incorporated | The Bricks and Wheels Well-Lug Lego Show | $2,000 |
Douglas Villa Association Football Club Incorporated | Douglas Villa AFC Junior Football Tournament 2025 | $2,000 |
Eastside Community Group | 2026 Community Festival | $4,000 |
Elevate Wairarapa Community Trust | Summer Hummer 2026 | $7,000 |
Equippers Masterton Trust | 2025 Colour Party | $1,000 |
Golden Shears International Shearing Championship Society | Golden Shears and World Shearing and Wool Handling Championships 2026 | $12,500 |
Masterton Malayali Association | Onam Celebration | $1,000 |
Masterton Motorplex Incorporated | 2025-26 Drag Racing Season | $5,000 |
Mauriceville Kopuaranga Fair Association | 27th Annual Mauriceville Country Fair | $3,000 |
Ngai Tūmapūhia-a-rangi Hapu Incorporated | Wairarapa Pā Wars 2026 | $1,000 |
Pukaha National Wildlife Centre | Biannual Pukaha Wairarapa Garden Tour | $1,000 |
Rangitāne o Wairarapa Incorporated | Christmas at Matua Pā | $1,000 |
REAP Wairarapa Incorporated | 2025 REAP Wairarapa Whakaoriori Schools Kapa Haka Festival | $3,126 |
Jane ROSS | Wairarapa Film Festival and Wairarapa 50-Hour Film Project | $2,500 |
Rotary Club of Masterton South | Masterton Christmas Fair 2025 | $8,000 |
Te Whānau Tautoko Incorporated | Masterton Primary School Gala | $1,000 |
Tinui Horse Sports Club | 2026 Tinui Horse Sports and Family Day Out | $1,587 |
Wairarapa Balloon Society Incorporated | 2026 Wairarapa Balloon Festival | $5,000 |
Wairarapa Pre Shears Wool Handling Championships | 2026 Pre Shears World Wool Handling Championship competition | $1,000 |
Wairarapa Women’s Centre | Whanaungatanga in Action; A Year of Community Engagement and Co-Creation Hui and Events | $1,000 |
TOTAL | $65,713 |
