$1500 donated for lights
Nga¯ Manu Nature Reserve’s nocturnal house has recently had an upgrade thanks to a generous donation of $1500 via the Nikau Ka¯ piti Fund.
A donor used the Nikau Foundation to make a pass-through grant to the nature reserve to help with the $7500 cost of installing LED grow lights in the popular attraction.
Nga¯ Manu Nature Reserve manager Matu Booth was delighted to hear about the unexpected donation.
“Kiwi houses are notoriously difficult environments in which to keep plants alive.
“The LEDs provide enough light for photosynthesis to occur without producing too much heat or using a lot of electricity.
“We have now planted up the enclosure with many species that the kiwi will enjoy probing around in,” he said.
“The LEDs were part of a wider upgrade for the nocturnal house which included the installation of an air conditioning system to keep air circulating through the enclosure, as well as a stream and cascade to introduce water and humidity into the birds’ environment.”
Nikau Foundation general manager Louise Parkin said, “As part of the community foundation model, Nikau
Foundation plays an important role in bringing worthy projects like Nga¯ Manu to the attention of generous individuals as part of our donor advisory service.
“In this case a Ka¯ piti-based donor was able to make an anonymous donation via the Nikau Ka¯ piti Fund which is a district fund designed especially for local residents to give-where-they-live.
“The foundation also administers Nga¯ Manu’s endowment fund which will provide long-term financial stability for the reserve and welcomes donations for those who love Nga¯ Manu and want to see it thrive in the future.”
If you want to leave a gift to Nga¯ Manu in your will, please contact Adrienne Bushell adrienne@nikaufoundation.org.nz or 04 381 2224 before the end of September to arrange a free will or change to your current will for free as part of the Wills Month campaign.
About Nikau Foundation
■ Mission statement: Growing generosity and social investment to strengthen our Wellington communities.
■ The Nikau Foundation is an independent charitable trust, part of a worldwide network of community foundations, that attracts gifts, trusts and legacies and invests them to preserve the capital and generate income to benefit the Greater Wellington region.
■ The income from these investments is distributed to charitable organisations in accordance with each donor’s wishes.
■ The foundation’s primary aim is to provide a simple, effective and longlasting way for people in the Greater Wellington region to give to local causes now and in the future.