Momentum Waikato Community Foundation

07/10/2026

This announcement from our peak body is big news for community foundations like us, looking forward to some serious synergy!

We are very proud to announce our new strategic partnership with BNZ Foundation, a Foundation committed to finding pathways to effectively fund into New Zealand communities, recognizing that local insight and on the ground experience is key to funding well. The Foundation’s two key pillars of Manaaki Taiao (care for our natural environment) and Manaaki Tangata (care for people and communities) aligns closely with the kaupapa of local community foundations.
Read more about this partnership and our amazing supporters here:
https://communityfoundations.org.nz/our-supporters
Ka tino pai tā tātou mahi tahi BNZ Foundation!

06/10/2026

“Living here, it can feel a bit isolated, but that can work both ways,” says Geoff.

“Our community, knowing it is ‘out on a limb’ geographically, responds by pulling together.

“The age and economic demographics of the Mercury Bay area suggest that collectively we currently have the ‘ways and means’ to take care of the local community and those things that are important to it.

“The Mercury Bay Future Fund makes it easy for you to leave a legacy for the community you have enjoyed and the local causes you care about,” says Geoff.

Read more of our article in the latest issue of the Matarangi Beach Paper...

Empowering Mercury Bay and Matarangi into the future Published on 1 October, 2026 Originally published by Matarangi Beach Paper, Thursday 1 October 2026.The Mercury Bay Future Fund at Momentum Waikato provides residents and visitors with the opportunity to donate now, or give through your Will, to a...

05/10/2026

Check out this lovely Seven Sharp item on the new Medieval Garden at Hamilton Gardens and the amazing craftwork of Glen Morris of Tuscany Statues. We're super proud to have played a role in making this new attraction a reality and are looking forward to the Baroque Garden next!

01/10/2026

Congratulations to our Bequest Patron and founding Chair, the one-and-only Ken Williamson on the occasion of his investiture as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, an 'ONZM, for services to governance and the community.

Ken got his gong from the Governor General, who is the Patron of Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ.

VERY well deserved, we're proud of you Ken.

Mr Ken Williamson, KStJ, QSM, JP, of Hamilton, ONZM for services to governance and the community.

Mr Ken Williamson has held several governance roles in the Order of St John, is a Trustee of Trust Waikato, a member of the Waitangi Tribunal, and Deputy Chair of WINTEC Waikato Polytechnic. He was Chair of the Momentum Waikato Community Foundation, and is a Trustee of the Waikato Regional Property Trust. He has held governance roles with Sky City Trust, Midland Sexual Support Services Trust, the Waikato Chiefs, Magic Netball, and Peak Indoor Sports Centre. He has been a longstanding supporter of Te Whakaruruhau Waikato Women’s Refuge and the McKenzie Centre for children with special needs. He has contributed to the Hamilton Kudos Scientific Awards Trust, the University of Waikato Foundation, and served on local school boards. Mr Williamson is a Fellow of the Insurance Brokers Corporation of New Zealand and a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Directors.

29/09/2026

Eleanor Cater from Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ writes about our peak body's recent conference at Claudelands Events Centre for the Waikato Business News...

When over a hundred people from community foundations around the country gathered in Kirikiriroa Hamilton in mid-September, the conversation kept returning to one uncomfortable question – is New Zealand still holding together?

The two-day conference ‘Building Connected Communities – Te Hanga i Ngā Hapori Tūhono’ landed as the evidence on declining social cohesion is getting harder to ignore.

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub opened with data showing New Zealanders’ trust and connection to one another is declining at pace.

Jenny Nand from the Waikato Intercultural Fund team presented on their efforts to rebuild cohesion and reminded us that safeguarding social cohesion is everyone’s responsibility.

For community foundations like your local Momentum Waikato, those findings matter.

read more...

When over a hundred people from community foundations around the country gathered in Kirikiriroa Hamilton in mid-September, the conversation kept returning to one uncomfortable question – is New Zealand still holding together? The two-day conference ‘Building Connected Communities – Te Hanga i...

29/09/2026

Ka rawe! Huge respect to Dame Susan Hassall, our Deputy Chair, for her recent investiture by the Governor-General of New Zealand Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, who is also the patron of Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ.

Dame Susan Hassall, JP, of Cambridge, DNZM for services to education.

Dame Susan Hassall was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2021 for her services to education, and has since expanded her contributions to the wider sector. Dame Susan was Headmaster of Hamilton Boys’ High School from 1999 until 2024, overseeing many significant academic and sporting successes and growth of the school. Her contributions to education and the wider community were recognised with the Hamilton Kirikiriroa Medal by Hamilton City Council in 2024. Having been on the University of Waikato Council from 2016 and Pro-Chancellor since 2017, she was appointed Chancellor in 2025 and is a member of the University of Waikato Foundation. She contributed to the signing of a kawenata between Waikato-Tainui and the University of Waikato in 2025, setting a foundation for how they will work together on programmes supporting their strategic objectives. Dame Susan is Chair of Hospice Waikato Trust and was Acting CEO for 10 months from 2024 to 2025, having been on the Board since 2018. She became Deputy Chair of Momentum Waikato in 2026, supporting community development projects and charities, having joined the Board in 2025. She was a founding member of the Association of Boys’ Schools of New Zealand in 2001 and has held several executive offices since 2008. Dame Susan has contributed to gifted education through giftEDnz and many years with the Minister’s Advisory Group.

28/09/2026

September is Wills Month, and even when it isn't we're actively engaging with the Waikato's lawyers, accountants and financial advisors to encourage them to alert their clients to the opportunities in leaving a charitable gift in their Will.

So here's Janice presenting to our upstairs neighbours, the very community minded DTI Lawyers...

24/09/2026

Some gifts keep giving long after they're made.

When you leave a gift in your Will to Momentum Waikato it won’t be spent and then gone. We invest and protect it and put it to work for your community every single year. The causes you care about keep on benefiting, long after you're gone.

Even gifting just 1% of your estate can make a real ongoing difference for your favourite places or charities.

Edna Brown made a bequest to her Tauranga community in 2001 and it's still generating grants today - see how its grown on the Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ site at https://communityfoundations.org.nz/latest-news/kiwis-intentionally-shaping-their-legacies

And she's not alone. Here in the Waikato, Keith Hobson made the same choice for the same reason. Read his story at https://momentumwaikato.nz/giving/how-can-my-estate-have-the-greatest-positive-effect-ln0doi

September is Wills Month. We'd love to kōrero.

24/09/2026

We're chuffed to have played the central role in the fundraising for the newly opened Medieval Garden at Hamilton Gardens. It really is splendid, do go and check it out as soon as you can!