Foundation pours $3m in grants into the North

Foundation North will dish out more than $3 million in grants to groups in the North.

Northland charities, schools, sports and community groups have received more than $3 million in grants from Foundation North, with two grants - to the Northland Rugby Union and Kauri Coast Recreation Society - worth $2.433 million.

The foundation, formerly the ASB Trust, provides grants to groups in Northland and Auckland and in the year to date from April 1, 2015, has dished out $39,208,566 across both regions, including grants of $3,040,000 to Northland groups.

But with a number of national organisations getting grants, such as NZ Aids Foundation, Macular Degeneration NZ and MNZ Epilepsy Association, more of the funding would be spent in Northland.

The single largest grant, and one of the largest in the Foundation's history, was $4,111,172 to support a major initiative called Te Ira. This new entity is designed to support whanau/families to break cycles of disadvantage, and is a collaboration between PARS (People at Risk Solutions) and Turuki Health Care. The initiative will launch later this year.

In Northland the largest grant was to the Northland Rugby Union of $1.4 million for building costs for a new headquarters on Pohe Island.

Whangarei District Council has approved resource consent for a 2500sq m rugby hub at Pohe Island, including a 6.7m high building and five football fields. Between $3.5-4.5 million is required to build the facility.

The second largest grant in the region was to the Kauri Coast Recreational Society of $1,033,000 for capital expenditure.

Society Chairman Chris Biddles said the grant would be used towards building the "Sportsville" project - designed to bring together 11 sports into one site at Memorial Park, in Dargaville.

Mr Biddles said Sportsville could be open in time for the 2017 winter sports season.

The Taitokerau Education Trust received $100,000 from the foundation while the Northland Disabled Charitable Trust received $60,000.

Grants of $20,000 were made to Kaikohe Project Promotions Charitable trust; Far North Disabilities Resource Centre; Support of Sexually Abused in Dargaville and Districts; Mid-way in Northland Day Services Trust; Whangarei Migrant Centre; Family Support Mid North; Kamo Sports Charitable Trust; and Tennis Northland, with more than 40 grants made.

- Visit www.foundationnorth.org.nz.