Taranaki Foundation

07/10/2026

Some really good news to share. 💛

Y Taranaki has secured nearly $3 million in Government funding over the next three years to support the ongoing work of Te Whare o Tapatahi, helping people in our community experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping.

Since it opened, the shelter has helped more than 150 people. It's a safe place to stay, but it's also practical support, connection and encouragement for people working out their next step.

A few of us from Taranaki Foundation were fortunate to visit the shelter and spend time volunteering there earlier this year. We were really moved by the care, dignity and calm of the space being created for men who, too often, simply need somewhere safe to rest and feel secure.

Congratulations to everyone at YMCA Taranaki and to everyone who has backed Te Whare o Tapatahi, whether through advocacy, partnership, encouragement or support. What an achievement for our community. 🌱

06/10/2026

PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY DOING GREAT MAHI. 💛

A few weeks ago, our CE Josh had the privilege of delivering the Office Bearer address and leading the Chartered Accountant’s Commitment at the CA ANZ Taranaki Gala Dinner.

Alongside his role with Taranaki Foundation, Josh is also a Councillor for Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

The evening was also a pretty special one for Annalese Sharrock, who was recognised as a Fellow of CA ANZ. 👏

Annalese is one of those people whose mahi stretches well beyond her day job. Through Strategy Collective, her wider business interests and the community and regional initiatives she contributes to, she brings plenty of energy, a strong commercial lens and a genuine commitment to Taranaki.

We are actually also lucky to have Strategy Collective alongside us as one of our Operational Supporters. Their team help us in bringing the stories of people and organisations doing great mahi across our region to life.

It was pretty special to see Annalese recognised and a lovely full-circle moment to have Josh presenting her with her Fellowship.

Two people doing great mahi in our community, in different ways. 💛 🏔️

04/10/2026

“The higher you climb a mountain, the further you can see. But the higher I have climbed my personal mountain, the more I have realised that no one gets here alone. That we do stand on the shoulders of those that have been before us.” 💛 🏔

Words from our CE Josh Hickford after being named the inaugural recipient of the Not-for-Profit Leadership Award at the Robert Walters New Zealand Leadership Awards.

A reflection on leadership, the people who help us along the way and the importance of remembering those who came before us.

Take a look at some of the highlights from the 2026 New Zealand Leadership Awards evening. 💛

22/09/2026

Our 2026 Funding Round closes in ONE week.🌱💛

Don’t miss your chance to apply. Applications are open until Wednesday 30 September and include:

🔸 Taranaki Foundation Annual Funding
🔸 The Tindall Foundation Funding for Taranaki

For eligibility details and to apply, head to our website:
https://taranakifoundation.org.nz/apply-for-funding/

21/09/2026

Supporting young people. Connecting older people. Strengthening whānau. Expanding education opportunities. Caring for our whenua. Bringing people together, right here in Taranaki. 💛

For many people who choose to leave a gift in their Will, this is the why.

It is the people, causes and mahi that matter most to them, carried on into the future.

Maybe a legacy isn't really about what you leave behind. It's about what you want to help carry forward. 🌱

17/09/2026

We are all so proud of you Josh. 💛

Last week, Josh was named the inaugural recipient of the Trust Management Not-for-Profit Leadership Award at the Robert Walters New Zealand Leadership Awards.

Josh will, of course, tell you this award is about the team and the community behind it. And he’s right - none of us do this mahi alone.

But it also takes courageous and bold leadership to create the space for a team to grow, the confidence to back new ideas, and a culture and belief where people and community can thrive. Josh has given Taranaki Foundation all of that, and so much more.

Josh is the kind of leader who sees the bigger picture but never loses sight of the people and communities in front of him.

A family man. A community man. And never short of a sporting analogy or reference (ok, or 100!).

So, in the words of his favourite, Sir Edmund Hillary:

“You don’t have to be a hero to accomplish great things. You can just be an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals.”

From Team Taranaki (we know you love that one 😉), congratulations, Josh. We are very proud of you. ⛰️

He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
It is the people, it is the people, it is the people.

Bringing people with you. Lifting others up.
That is Josh. 💛

15/09/2026

Around 20 years ago, Grant Carter's mum was admitted to intensive care with heart failure. Watching the team care for her during one of the hardest periods his family had faced changed the way he thought about healthcare.

"It left a lasting impression on me," he says.

That experience is a big part of his why. For 5 years, Grant has helped raise millions for healthcare in Taranaki through the Taranaki Health Foundation. Now, he's leaving a gift in his own Will to the Taranaki Health Fund, an endowment held with Taranaki Foundation.

"It's about leaving a legacy that continues to strengthen Taranaki for generations to come." ⛰️

His advice to anyone considering the same? Talk to Taranaki Foundation, or your trusted advisor. You don't need to decide anything straight away, just start the conversation. 💛

👉 Read Grant's full story below.

Turning good into great: Why Grant Carter chose to leave a gift in his Will 1 Sept 2026 For the past five years, Grant Carter has seen first-hand how generosity can make a difference to the Taranaki community. Now, he is putting that belief into practice by leaving a gift in his own Will. As General...

09/09/2026

"I hope that what I'm doing inspires my grandchildren to think about how they can make a difference too. I would love them to see that giving back to your community is something you can carry through your life." - Janine Evans.

Turns out, it's becoming 'Kiwi as' to leave a legacy for the next generation. 🗻🌊🏖️🤙

New research commissioned by Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ found that over half of Kiwis who already give to charity are interested in leaving a gift in their will. And 17.4% already have.

The top reason people choose to leave a charitable gift in their Will? It aligns with their personal values. 💛

That's something Janine understands. Her own gift in her Will reflects the causes she's supported throughout her life, and the community she still calls home.

Thanks to the Taranaki Daily News for their write-up on this too: https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/361074856/over-half-kiwis-open-leaving-gifts-wills-study-finds

It’s becoming ‘Kiwi as’ to leave a legacy for the next generation 8 September 2026 Leaving a gift in your will to a cause you care about is becoming ‘Kiwi as’. New research shows Kiwis who already give to their communities are increasingly open to leaving a charitable gift in their will. S...

06/09/2026

Bev Prankerd is putting her money where her heart is. 💛💛

As a volunteer. As secretary-treasurer. And now, as someone who has chosen to leave a gift in her Will to Hāwera Riding for the Disabled (RDA), a charitable organisation which runs weekly riding sessions for children and adults with disabilities.

Because it's not just pony rides in the paddock. For some kids, it's the reason they get out of bed and go to school on a Wednesday. It's the confidence to touch a horse for the first time. It's 45 minutes where they feel completely themselves.

"Nothing beats a smile or a single word from one of our riders, but we also need to be financially stable to offer these opportunities." - Bev Prankerd.

Now imagine if there were more Bevs. What could that mean for organisations like this one?

This Wills Month, read more about why Bev is putting her money where her heart is. 😍

Thanks to the Taranaki Daily News for helping share this story with a front-page write-up today too!!
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/361074645/putting-her-money-where-her-heart-hawera-rda

02/09/2026

Scholarship Opportunities – APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN🎓💛

We offer a range of scholarships through Taranaki Foundation, made possible by the generosity of our local donors.

Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria and application deadline.

Our current scholarships include:

🔸 The Rudi Milesi Fund Scholarships
🔸 Ohangai School Centennial Teaching Scholarship
🔸 The Fergusson Fund Media Scholarships
🔸 Taranaki Geological Society Scholarship

For more details, eligibility criteria and application information, visit our website:
https://taranakifoundation.org.nz/scholarships/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTzBzVwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMWRrNFFGcGN2am5EVUtuZkZzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe_kmkCVBAR0AusxzruzV1jDz6DQVNe4iu1whnfCrDS34aTtfCm1txa4NWOsI_aem_Zbj8uwBej9b_ZEcScvIxSQ