The Te Puke Community Charitable Trust has formally re-settled its remaining funds to establish the Te Puke Community Fund, in partnership with the Eastern Bay Community Foundation.

Created as a dedicated legacy fund, the initiative was designed to provide ongoing support for the Te Puke community while preserving the capital gifted by donors.

Under the new arrangement, the trust and the foundation would work together to promote the fund to donors, community groups, and local organisations.

All contributions to the Te Puke Community Fund would be invested for long-term benefit, with income generated each year distributed to support local people, projects, and organisations.

An annual public statement would outline donations received, income earned, and grants awarded.

To ensure decisions reflect local priorities, the foundation will establish a Te Puke Community Fund Distributions Panel.

Its area of benefit would align with the Maketu–Te Puke Ward boundary.

The panel will include foundation representatives, two members of the Te Puke Eastern Community Board, and may also include representatives from the Maketu Community Board, Tapuika Iwi Authority, and Te Kapu o Waitaha.

Eastern Bay Community Foundation manager Angela Jackson said the new partnership would create enduring impact.

“We are excited to welcome the Te Puke Community Fund into the foundation’s family. This fund will support the Te Puke area in 10 years, 20 years, 100 years and beyond. We are witnessing the generosity of the Te Puke community, with intergenerational impact in mind.”

The trust’s remaining $45,000, held from the Te Puke Centre project, will form the inaugural contribution to the fund.

After extensive discussions – and acknowledging the challenges local groups face in securing funding – the trustees agreed this approach offered the most meaningful way to honour the original community investment.

Trust chairwoman Jenny Wotten said the fund marked an important milestone.

“We are closing one chapter and opening an exciting new opportunity. This fund creates a pathway for people who love Te Puke to invest in its long-term prosperity.”

The current trustees would continue supporting and promoting the fund in partnership with the foundation in the years ahead.

On December 17, trustees Nicola Cooke, Karen Summerhays, Dale Snell and Jenny Wotten met with Angela Jackson to formally sign the Memorandum of Understanding establishing the Te Puke Community Fund. (Trustee Harpinder Kaur was an apology.)

Inquiries about the Te Puke Community Fund were welcomed by the Eastern Bay Community Foundation.

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