The Lion Foundation

26/08/2026

🎶 Congratulations to the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO) on the success of its Ki te Hapori | In the Community programme! 🎶

Thanks to our Christchurch venue partners The Belfast Tavern - The Peg, Merrin Street Brewery Bar, and The Yaldy, The Lion Foundation were able to contribute towards CSO's delivery of Ki te Hapori programme. Proud to support this initiative, bringing the joy of music to communities across Canterbury. Through free, accessible, and participant-led sessions, this programme helps people build confidence, spark creativity, and strengthen community wellbeing.

As the largest orchestral community music programme in Aotearoa, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra continues to make a lasting impact by connecting people through the power of music.

👏 Well done to everyone involved in making Puoro mā te Katoa | Music for everyone a reality.

26/08/2026

✨ What a community celebration! ✨
We’re thrilled to see Te Awa The Great NZ River Ride Night Lights bring more than 2,000 people together this year, nearly double last year’s turnout. From families and friends to visitors and locals, the trails were alive with connection, laughter and community spirit.

A huge thank you to our venue partners The Essex Arms Huntly and McGinty’s Bar Huntly. Your support helps make funding available for local events possible, creating opportunities for communities to come together and enjoy memorable experiences close to home.

Congratulations to Te Awa River Ride, the volunteers, vendors and everyone who helped make this free event such a success. Here's to an even bigger and brighter Night Lights next year! 🌟🚴

25/08/2026

Amongst many who made donations, The Lion Foundation is proud to have made a significant contribution towards Auckland Hospital Foundation's latest healthcare training innovation. All made possible through the funds generated by our dedicated venue partners across the motu.

Introducing Kahi, the Māori name gifted to a SimMan 3G Critical Care manikin, one of the most advanced medical simulation tools available. Kahi will help healthcare teams practise and prepare for critical, life-threatening situations in a realistic but completely risk-free environment.

This is a powerful example of community gaming funding at work. We extend our sincere thanks to our venue partners whose commitment and hard work continue to create meaningful benefits for communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

Together, we're helping save lives through better training and better care.

🏥👨‍⚕️👩‍⚕️❤

He breathes, cries, bleeds, sweats, talks and even screams… but he's not a human!

He is Kahi, our critical care simulation manikin, helping our wonderful Cardiovascular teams perform at their best for every patient in their care. And what makes Kahi extra special? He's here thanks entirely to donations, including a generous gift from the The Lion Foundation.

Nurses have been blown away by Kahi's impressive high-tech, lifelike features, especially compared to the rapidly deteriorating 10-year-old manikin they relied on before his arrival.

“Kahi has so many tricks up his sleeve; he will do great things for our team and teams across New Zealand, for many years to come.”

With Kahi (a SimMan 3G), training is truly immersive. Kahi simulates the most complex medical cases, so teams can train together and build real-world readiness, raising their exceptional expertise to even greater heights.

When patients are at their sickest, our teams are ready to give them the best possible chance of survival.

We can’t wait to share more stories of Kahi’s impact and we’re grateful for your ongoing support as we continue strengthening our simulation capabilities at Auckland City Hospital.

Want to go behind-the-scenes of a cardiac arrest training scenario? Watch the video for a glimpse of the action - link in the comments.

24/08/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Chertsey School on the successful completion of their bike shed project! 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️

We're proud to have contributed funds towards Chertsey School's new purpose-built bike shed that will encourage greater participation in physical activity and help young people build confidence and cycling skills in an inclusive environment. The bike track is already making a positive impact, supporting physical education programmes during school hours and providing a valuable recreational space for the wider community after hours.

This project strongly reflects The Lion Foundation's commitment to community wellbeing, youth development, and access to quality recreational facilities.

👏 A special thank you to our local venue partners Devon Tavern, Hotel Ashburton, Railway Tavern Rakaia, The Phat Duck - Brew Bar + Kitchen and Tinwald Tavern Bar, whose support makes grants like this possible. Working together with the Braided Rivers Community Trust Ashburton we are able to support projects that strengthen our communities and create opportunities for future generations.

🚴🚴‍♀️💙

𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗢𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 • 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 • 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬
We love seeing the ideas Chertsey School continues to bring to life for its tamariki and wider community.

Their latest project is a new purpose-built bike shed, marking one of the final stages of the schools long-running cycling project.

𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐁𝐑𝐂𝐓'𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, $𝟏𝟖,𝟔𝟗𝟕 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

The new bike shed will provide secure, weather-protected storage for the school's bikes and, importantly, will also accommodate adaptive bikes and specialised equipment, helping ensure all tamariki have the opportunity to get involved.

Chertsey School sits outside BRCT's own granting area, which makes partnerships like this particularly valuable. Through The Lion Foundation Regional Grants Committee, we're able to help support communities that we otherwise couldn't fund directly.

Over the past four years, $114,369 in Lion Foundation funding has been granted to Chertsey School, supporting a number of projects and helping this small rural school continue turning some pretty awesome ideas into reality.

𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.

*𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝑹𝑪𝑻 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒛𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒛𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑴𝒊𝒅 𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒈𝒆𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 (𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔) 𝒂𝒔 𝑹𝒂𝒌𝒂𝒊𝒂 𝒕𝒐 𝑹𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒂 𝑹𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔.

19/08/2026

Supporting young people, strengthening communities ❤
A shout out to Thrive Trust for taking another important step in supporting young people across Thames and Paeroa.

Thrive Trust delivers mentoring and wellbeing programmes in primary and secondary schools, helping young people navigate key life transitions, including the move to high school. By providing consistent support and trusted adult mentors, Thrive Trust helps reduce anxiety for both students and parents while building resilience and stronger school communities.

Working across schools, homes, outdoor environments, and community spaces, travel is a vital part of Thrive Trust service. Our contribution towards a hybrid van will provide safe and reliable transport in support to delivering their mentoring and wellbeing programmes.

A huge thank you to our venue partners The Junction Bar and Paeroa Hotel whose mahi has made grants like this possible, creating a positive impact for young people and families throughout their communities. 🙌🚐❤

🚐❤💪

A massive thank you to The Lion Foundation for funding our new youth work van. 🚐💙

I used to run a little property servicing business, and one of the great things about it was how simple the model was:

Do the work.
Get paid for the work.

Charity work often feels a little different.

Do the work.
See the need.
Keep showing up.
Then figure out how to pay for it so you can keep doing it.

That’s why support like this matters so much.

This van isn’t just a vehicle. It means we can get young people out on adventures, into programmes, home safely, and into spaces where some of the best conversations happen.

And it’s organisations like The Lion Foundation, alongside the businesses, churches and individuals who choose to get behind what we do, that make it possible for us to keep showing up where it matters most.

So genuinely — thank you.

You’re helping put fuel in a whole lot more than just a van. 💙

18/08/2026

A heartfelt thank you received from Tauhinu Sea Scout Group to The Lion Foundation and Venue Partners 🦁⚓

The Tauhinu Sea Scout Group have started on phase one of their Project Watershed that is the construction of a new purpose-built community boatshed in Greenhithe. This important first stage includes the foundations and groundworks that will prepare the site for the full build.

For many years, the Club has had to store their boats, kayaks, and equipment in aging, difficult to access containers. Now they are excited to dig in and build a new boatshed will create a secure, accessible home for their equipment, providing more opportunities for young people to participate in sailing, kayaking, water safety education, and environmental conservation activities around the Upper Harbour.
Project Watershed represents a positive impact for local community groups, supports youth development, outdoor recreation, environmental stewardship, and water safety.

Thanks to our venue partners hard work, these funds would not be possible without you. Inn Field, Northcote Tavern, The Good Home , Takapuna Bar, Wairau Sports Bar 💙⚜️

18/08/2026

So good to be able to support the Young Enterprise Trust paving the way for many young entreprenuers around Aotearoa! We're so grateful for our venue partners hard work for making our support possible.

Congratulations YES Northland students, all the best for your bright future ahead! 👨‍💼🤩

28/07/2026

For those who don't know about Kenzie's Gift. They are dedicated to supporting the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people who are experiencing the profound impact of a death or the diagnosis of a serious, usually life-limiting, illness within their immediate family—such as a parent or sibling. Kenzie's Gift core service provides children and young people free, one-on-one therapy with registered mental health professionals.

Proud to support, and thankful to our venue partners for their mahi making these funds possible. ❤️

28/07/2026

Proud to contribute towards the Sports Coordinator running another season of Inclusive Sport programmes. Thanks to our venue partners Fanny’s Nelson Pub, O'Shedigans, Post Boy Hotel and The Waka for making these funds possible 🥰

We are always grateful for the support from The Lion Foundation. Thank you for another year of funding.

05/07/2026

Thank you for sharing Braided Rivers Community Trust Ashburton 🙌

𝐁𝐑𝐂𝐓, 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 $𝟖,𝟒𝟐𝟓 (𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥. 𝐆𝐒𝐓) 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬, 𝐄𝐏𝐑𝐎𝟖 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝟑𝐃 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.

𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 • 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗬 • 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚
Some of the most valuable learning happens beyond the traditional classroom, and the Ashburton Intermediate School is embracing it.

Whether it's tackling engineering challenges through EPRO8, designing with 3D printers, or discovering a passion for music, hands-on experiences encourage students to think creatively, work collaboratively, and develop skills that last well beyond the classroom.

𝐁𝐑𝐂𝐓, 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 $𝟖,𝟒𝟐𝟓 (𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥. 𝐆𝐒𝐓) 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬, 𝐄𝐏𝐑𝐎𝟖 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝟑𝐃 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.

A huge congratulations to the **Dino Nuggies** EPRO8 team who recently placed 4th in the regional finals, earning a place at the Canterbury Finals. With just four points separating the top four teams, it was an outstanding performance and a testament to the teamwork, problem-solving and determination these students bring to every challenge.

We're proud to support schools that create opportunities for students to explore, innovate and shine, both inside and outside the classroom.