PRESS RELEASE

March 7, 2007

Social service provider He Korowai Trust has gained a $90,000 grant towards its running costs over the next three years.
 

The money is part of more than $300,000 worth of grants to Far North organisations announced this week by community funder ASB Community Trust.

“The CEO of He Korowai Trust, Ricky Houghton, is known throughout the community as a social entrepreneur, a visionary and a risk taker,” says ASB Community Trust CEO Jennifer Gill. “The trust is providing an innovative, holistic social service in the Far North, working with whanau that no one else has been able to work with.”

The Kaitaia-based He Korowai Trust aims to meet the needs of families who fall outside Government or iwi service provision, including families in crisis who face mortgagee sales, power disconnections and repossessions.

The grant will give the trust consistent funding over the next three years, allowing it to plan and continue the work it is already doing, says Ms Gill.

Meanwhile, 75km south west of Kaitaia, the small settlement of Pawarenga has gained a $64,315 grant toward the rebuilding of its community centre, which burned down in 2005.

Pawarenga Community Trust trustee Kit Warr says the fire was a big blow.

“It was the heart and soul of Pawarenga, always warm and welcoming. If you ever had a problem or needed advice, the trust was the place to go.”

It gave people in the area access to power, a washing machine and plentiful water supply – which many people in the area do not have at home. It provided phone, fax, photocopier and internet access as well as providing help and advice in areas such as applying for a driver’s licence, birth certificates and marriage licenses.

Another Far North community service provider to gain a Trust grant this month is Whakawhiti Ora Pai Community Health Services, which was given $81,365 towards extensions to its Te Kao health clinic.

The Maori health provider, which runs clinics at Te Hapua and Pukenui, as well as at Te Kao, has seen growing demand in recent years and the two small treatment rooms at Te Kao are no longer big enough, says General Manager Melanie Dalziel Ujdur. The grant will allow the health provider to add three new consulting rooms, a dispensary, filing room, bathroom and waiting room.

Other Northland groups to gain grants included Kerikeri’s Family Support, which was given $30,000 toward its running costs; Pukepoto School, $45,500 toward a new playground and library books and St Peters Anglican Church, in Te Kopuru, $32,752 toward an upgrade of the church hall, which is regularly used by the wider community.

ASB Community Trust decides on grants for projects in education, the arts, sport, recreation, environment, heritage, health and social services areas each month.

Founded on the sale of its shares in the ASB Bank, the Trust has granted more than $600m since being formed in 1988. Any incorporated or charitable trust can apply for funds, provided they are a not-for-profit organisation.

(ENDS)


For further information, contact:
ASB Community Trust CEO Jennifer Gill, (09) 360 0291, or 027 2468 016.
He Korowai Trust CEO Ricky Houghton, 09-408-4844
Pawarenga Community Trust co-ordinator Kathleen Cassidy 09 409 5569
Whakawhiti Ora Pai Community Health Services GM Melanie Dalziel Ujdur 09-409-7880