Nikau Foundation

08/10/2026

A powerful way to remember Lisette.

Against Wellington Cathedral’s lofty ceiling echo the notes of Monteverdi’s Vespers of the Blessed Virgin. In the stalls below stands a chorister adorned in crimson robes, hands drifting across a braille music sheet.

Her name is Lisette.

Born in 1971 as Elizabeth Jacoba Maria Wesseling, Lisette was blind from a very early age, having developed retinoblastoma as a baby. After spending her early childhood in the Netherlands, her family emigrated to New Zealand in 1980, with her parents establishing a bakery in Manurewa.

From a young age, she loved singing and showed potential early. She studied music at both Auckland and Melbourne Universities, before travelling to London to complete her postgraduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under the tutelage of Dame Emma Kirkby.

Lisette’s time in London would be formative as she pursued performance opportunities with, among others, the Sweelinck and Sienna Ensembles, tried her hand at teaching and met her husband Neil. Throughout her career, her voice was described as a force that could “move a stone to tears … [through its] piercing ethereal clarity”.

While Aotearoa New Zealand called Lisette home in 2004, she continued to build an impressive musical career. Lisette held the belief that the arts were essential. “To her, singing wasn’t just a job,” says Neil. “It was something that was crucial to life.” She aimed to instil the same passion for the singing craft in younger generations, teaching hundreds of students to express themselves through the medium.

Lisette was also a keen advocate for blind people, encouraging many to live their lives without limits. She published a book of braille music to help individuals pursue their musical passions and advocated for the use of braille in public settings as a Braille Awareness Consultant at Blind Low Vision NZ.

She amassed “probably the largest” collection of braille sheet music in Aotearoa New Zealand, was instrumental in introducing braille books into libraries across the country and even visited Paris to celebrate the 200-year anniversary of Louis Braille’s birthday.

Lisette sadly passed away at the age of 44 in 2016 after the cancer she developed in childhood returned. Following her passing, Neil wanted to find a way to preserve her memory and make sure her contemporaries could continue to gain inspiration and experience in Lisette’s memory. He decided to establish the Lisette Wesseling Blind Musicians Fund with Nīkau Foundation.

Once the fund is grant-making in future, the Lisette Wesseling Blind Musicians Fund will ensure that other blind or low vision musicians can pursue their ambitions.

“Lisette’s fund is a way to pass on the baton so that many, many others continue to find joy in music and pursue their passions without barriers," says Neil.

We are so incredibly proud to be the kaitiaki of Lisette's Fund, ensuring her generosity continues to be felt for generations to come.

06/10/2026

For the causes you love, forever. ❤️

When you leave a gift to a community foundation, like Nīkau, it will continue to grow and give back to the things you care about, forever.

But as the years go by, our communities change, generations grow old and new organisations are established to support our region's evolving challenges, how do we make sure that gift has staying power and continues to make a meaningful impact?

Nīkau Foundation's Communications and Engagement Manager, Maddie McLeod, explores how Nīkau turns lifetimes into transformative community legacies that give back year-on-year, forever, in Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ's latest blog post.

To read more, click below:

WILLS MONTH BLOG SERIESThroughout September Wills Month we are sharing useful information and thought pieces from our network of member Foundations and supporters.

24/09/2026

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Nīkau Foundation Chief Executive Officer Em Lewis, who was recently named Chair of Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ.

Across the motu, community foundations are doing amazing mahi to inspire transformative local generosity, make giving go further and, together, build an asset that will deliver powerful intergenerational impact. Over the past few years alone, we have grown substantially as a network, and we are so excited to see what the next chapter brings.

A big thank you to Lori Luke, who has channelled a huge amount of time, expertise and passion into her role as Chair over the past year.

Ka rawe!

22/09/2026

Homelessness is one of the most visible embodiments of the cost-of-living crisis.

Sadly, the number of people affected is on the rise nationally, with organisations reporting far more people accessing their services.

In collaboration with DCM Wellington, the Upper Hutt Housing Trust, Wellington Homeless Women's Trust | Te Whare Nukunoa and the Paekākāriki Housing Trust, we take a look at the factors contributing to high rates of housing insecurity, the organisations delivering wrap-around support to vulnerable communities and the innovative solutions happening on the ground to create better outcomes.

To take a read, click below:

Homelessness is one of the most visible embodiments of the cost-of-living crisis. Sadly, the number of people affected is on the rise nationally, with organisations reporting far more people accessing their services. In collaboration with Downtown Community Ministry, the Upper Hutt Housing Trust, W

21/09/2026

The legacy we leave to our communities is a vivid reflection of our unique lifetimes.

A love letter to the causes we care about.

A gift to the places that raised us and the communities that shaped us.

A lifeline to the organisations that helped us along the way.

A commitment to a better future.

A precious taonga that will be passed down to the next generation.

For Nīkau donor, Morris Moller, the charitable legacy he has left is a reflection of the things he was passionate about.

Morris was born in 1948 in Wellington to Ruth (nee Morris) and George Moller.

His passion for adventure was sparked early, taking part in Sea Scouts, Venturers and Rover Scouts from a young age. An interest in heavy machinery was also ignited early and was something he explored in both his personal and professional life.

Morris was a long-time member of New Zealand’s Omnibus Society, holding the role of Treasurer, attending conferences, managing memberships of fellow enthusiasts and volunteering his time to drive charter buses.

His career was also spent in the driver’s seat – as a truck driver for Adams and Blyth Limited in the 1970s, where he helped with large local infrastructure projects such as the Bolton Street motorway bisection, and then as a bus driver for Stagecoach.

Although his ‘heart of gold’ was well known, Morris had quietly contributed to charities close to his heart throughout his lifetime. One was Wellington Free Ambulance to which he had donated regularly for 26 years. Later in his life, he would also benefit from their services as he experienced health complications.

It was fitting therefore that he chose to continue his support for Wellington Free Ambulance by setting up the Morris Moller Fund with Nīkau Foundation via a gift in his will.

Dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities through emergency care and rescue services, the Morris Moller Fund will ensure that the causes Morris loved receive a donation every year, forever.

Morris Bryan Moller will be remembered and his generosity felt for generations to come.

To read more about Morris's rich life and the meaningful legacy he has left to the causes he loved, please click below:

With a passion for heavy machinery and vehicles, long-time member of New Zealand’s Omnibus Society and having spent his career in the driver’s seat, Morris Moller’s legacy for our communities is certainly fitting. Having quietly supported Wellington Free Ambulance for almost 30 years, Morris c...

14/09/2026

At Nīkau, we just (formally) celebrated the milestone of being kaitiaki of over 100 endowment funds.

But we didn’t start with 100.

We started with one – the Elma Coxon Fund, established in 2007 by Adam Coxon in honour of his late sister.

Born in Balclutha in 1921 and raised in Dunedin, Adam shared an exceptionally close bond with Elma, who was 10 years older than him. The two lived together for most of their lives, remaining devoted companions into old age and exploring creative interests - drawing, watercolour and oil painting - after they both retired.

When Elma died in 2006, she left her estate to Adam. Wanting to manage his charitable giving thoughtfully, Adam sought advice from lawyer Alistair Gilchrist.

“Adam had been left a decent sum of money by his sister – around $100,000. I encouraged him to set up a fund with Nīkau because I knew the Foundation would be able to fulfil Adam’s wishes.”

The fund was designed to provide perpetual support to causes across the areas of health, the arts, education and conservation. Since its establishment, the fund has delivered transformative funding to organisations such as Naenae Youth Charitable Trust, the Wellington Museums Trust and Ghost Diving New Zealand.

Adam’s belief in Nīkau Foundation’s work was evident in his final act of generosity. In his will, he left his own estate to Nīkau, creating the Jessie, Elma and Adam Coxon Endowment Fund to support organisations focused on education, religion, health and alleviating financial hardship.

Since the respective funds were established, they have collectively given out almost $300,000 to causes close to Adam’s heart. With both funds continuing to grow and give back, Adam’s legacy to our community will be enduring.

To read more about Adam’s rich life and the legacy he has left for our communities, please click below.

The Elma Coxon Fund – Nīkau Foundation’s first fund – was established in 2007 as a lasting tribute to a deeply loved sister. Today, it continues to make a meaningful impact for our local communities, reflecting the values and quiet generosity of the man behind it, Adam Coxon.

10/09/2026

We’re living longer, staying healthy as we age and continuing to make a meaningful contribution to our communities as we enter our later years.

While it’s certainly something to celebrate, it’s putting pressure on already strained services, including our health system, housing, infrastructure and social services.

In collaboration with Te Hopai Home and Hospital, Dementia Wellington, Arthritis New Zealand |Mateponapona Aotearoa and Age Concern New Zealand Wellington, we take a look at the challenges facing our ageing population, the work charitable organisations are doing to support older generations and prepare for the future, and the role philanthropy can play in strengthening support for the sector.

To read more, please click below.

We’re living longer, staying healthy as we age and continuing to make a meaningful contribution to our communities as we enter our later years. While it’s certainly something to celebrate, it’s putting pressure on already strained services, including our health system, housing, 10 infrastructu...

07/09/2026

Applications for Nīkau Foundation's 2026 Grants Round close at MIDNIGHT tonight.

To find out more about our funding eligibility criteria, what we fund or apply, please click the link below:

https://www.nikaufoundation.nz/funding-hub

NB: Unfortunately, due to the nature of our decision-making process and a high volume of applications received this year, we are unable to accept applications submitted after midnight Tuesday, the 8th of September.

04/09/2026

Our 2025/26 Impact Report is now LIVE!

And it's full of stories of incredible local generosity and impactful community mahi happening across Te Upoko-o-te-Ika-a-Māui, the Greater Wellington region, including:

💚 The locals leaving powerful charitable legacies for the causes they care about.

💚 The charitable organisations pivoting to ensure continued impact.

💚 The organisations doing amazing mahi to support our region's people and places.

💚 How giving is evolving across our region and the motu

💚And how, together, we are building a powerful asset to support our communities - today, tomorrow and long into the future.

We're incredibly proud of this key document (it's a great read, if we say so ourselves!).

A big THANK YOU for your continued support of Nīkau Foundation and our communities. Whether you are a donor, supporter, corporate partner, community organisation or volunteer, we are all playing an important part in building a stronger, more resilient region.

For our people.

For our places.

For future generations.

To take a look, click below:

https://www.nikaufoundation.nz/2025-26-impact-report

Happy reading!

The Nīkau Foundation team

This report, which covers the period from October 2024 - March 2026, features stories of grassroots action across our communities, organisations doing amazing mahi to support the people and places of our region and generous locals, who are leaving transformative legacies for the causes they love.

29/08/2026

Applications for Nīkau Foundation's 2026 Grants Round close at midnight on Tuesday 8th of September.

Whether your for-purpose organisation is working to create better outcomes for our rangatahi, for our region's most vulnerable, for our natural environment or for community health and wellbeing, we may be able to help.

To find out more about our eligibility criteria, FAQ's or to apply, please see our funding hub below:

www.nikaufoundation.nz/funding-hub

Funding HubNikau Foundation is Te Upoko-o-te-Ika-a-Māui, the Greater Wellington region’s community foundation. As a community foundation, we are not about a single cause - we are about our region, our people and our places. With a long-term giving model, we are proud to work alongside donors to e...