Rural Ward Fund supports 9 community-led projects

Nine rural community projects that will strengthen local connections and support wellbeing have received full or partial grants through the Rural Ward Fund.

The fund is overseen by Council’s Voice and Choice Committee and supports communities outside the district’s Community Board and Community Committee catchments.

Committee Chair and Whāingaroa General Ward Councillor Lisa Thomson said she was encouraged by the level of interest in the fund and hoped participation would continue to grow next year.

“This fund gives rural communities the opportunity to come together, build local connections, and create projects that reflect their needs and aspirations,” Cr Thomson said.

“Our rural communities are the bedrock of our district, and through this fund we can support, promote, and celebrate the mahi happening across these communities. I look forward to seeing these projects and events come to life over the next year.”

Successful projects demonstrated clear social, environmental, cultural, educational, or wellbeing benefits, as well as a contribution to the resilience and vitality of rural communities across the district.

Applications were assessed against criteria including whether they would:

• Engage the community and provide fair access to the event or project;
• Respond to a need or opportunity unique to the rural area; and
• Show genuine community need, community support, and a viable approach to securing any additional funding required.

This year’s Rural Ward Fund recipients are:

1. Mangatawhiri Social Club, for a trial race event
2. Te Runanga o Ngaati Naho, for Te Ahurei ki Rangiriri, an annual cultural event
3. Akau Community First Response Fund, for defibrillator maintenance across the community
4. Whangapee Catchment Society Incorporated, for monthly freshwater testing of streams surrounding Lake Whangapee
5. Predator Free Tamahere, to support community education and awareness on conversation 
6. Akau Turf Club, to weatherproof and strengthen the clubhouse
7. Tamahere Model Country School, to resurface its cricket net facility
8. Tamahere Community Charitable Trust, for signage and a new website
9. Matangi Community Committee, to update its website

What to learn more about the fund?

The Rural Ward Fund is available to communities outside Waikato District Council Community Board catchments (Raglan, Huntly, Ngaruawahia, Taupiri, and Tuakau community boards) and outside the Te Kauwhata and Meremere Community Committee catchments. A map showing the community board catchment areas is below.

Community groups, non-commercial groups and voluntary organisations that live in a community board catchment, or Te Kauwhata and Meremere, can apply to their board’s discretionary fund for funding for events and projects. More information on this funding can be found on our website.

Rural Ward Map for the Waikato district