Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.
While The Gift Trust works and gives both nationally and internationally, our home is in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington); a region we share with a wonderful community of philanthropic trusts and foundations. We enjoy an excellent relationship with this group, sharing information with one another and supporting communities together – they’re a great bunch!
In 2023, the group began to discuss ways in which we could support mana whenua and the incredible work they do in the community. Te Āti Awa launched the very first kohanga reo in 1982 in Wainuiomata, and continue to run a number of these around the region, along with a kura kaupapa (school), medical centre, sports facility, youth employment programme, refugee and migrant support, and even a radio station!
When a group of funders want to co-fund something together, they sometimes encounter a bit of a problem: paperwork. In our case, ten funders with ten different application processes asking Te Āti Awa to fill out ten different application forms doesn’t feel like much of a gift! Sometimes, the amount of time it takes to meet a funder’s application and reporting requirements costs an organisation more in people-hours than the gift they’re being given.
We happily agreed to host a fund for Te Āti Awa at Waiwhetū Marae, for the whole funders’ group to contribute through. As a specialised donor-advised fund, we work with each funder to meet their individual requirements, pool the funds, and then pass them on to the marae trust.
As our contribution to this koha, we don’t charge a fee, meaning all the pūtea goes to the mahi at Waiwhetū. The funding is also untagged, which means the haukāinga can use it where it’s needed.
Reporting is easier too: once a year, we gather at Waiwhetū Marae for a cup of tea, some excellent scones, and a verbal update from marae manager Peggy Luke-Ngāheke, with her gracious thanks. We are thankful to Peggy, for giving the name ‘Matariki Koha’ to the fund.
The Gift Trust is proud to be a part of this network, and to be able to facilitate this giving. More so, we now have the privilege of walking in the kitchen door at Waiwhetū Marae, as we’re no longer considered manuhiri there.
If you’re a Wellington-based funder or donor who’d like to join the group, or if you’d like our help facilitating collective funding for mana whenua in your own area, we’d love to have a kōrero.
