More grants from community boards

The Far North’s three community boards have distributed almost $50,000 in funding to sporting, cultural and community groups so far this year.

Each board supports a range of community organisations and events from the Local Grants Fund, aimed at encouraging community leadership, selfreliance, volunteer work, and new facilities or services within the Kaikohe-Hokianga, Te Hiku and Bay of Islands-Whangaroa wards.

The

Bay

of

IslandsWhangaroa Community Board has allocated almost shared $24,000 to four groups. Of that, $13,500 went to the Midway Incorporated Northland Day Services Trust to buy a physical therapy machine and a pool lifting device, which will be installed at Kawakawa’s Te Papawai Bay of Islands Community Pool for community use.

The board also granted $4350 to youth addictions support group Be Free Inc, to help it attend the Mangonui Waterfront Festival, $3130 to the Kaeo Festival Group to run Nga Purapura 2019, Kaeo’s music, arts and nature festival for children, and $2900 to the Pear Tree Paddlers, who will stage the national and regional school stand-up paddle boarding championships this year.

The Kaikohe-Hokianga board has granted almost $18,000, including $7000 to help Taheke Marae with on-going health and safety improvements to marae buildings.

It has also granted $3700 to Volunteering Northland, to assist with annual operating costs, $2500 to the Rawiri Love — Smiley Campaign to promote Get Fit Kaikohe, $2000 to the Hokianga Environmental Protection Group, to assist with the Real Food Hokianga Festival, $1500 to the Ohaeawai Taiamai Residents’ Association, to assist with the Taiamai community day, $700 to the Rawene Golf Club, for this year’s Hokianga Golf Fun Day, and $500 to the Hokianga Sailing Trust for replacing life vests.

Te Hiku Community Board has distributed almost $7000, including $3000 to the New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Association to stage the 2019 NZ Offshore Powerboat Series at Doubtless Bay on April 29.

It also granted $2970 to Awhina Hoiho, a Kaitaia-based therapy charity, and $1000 to Be Free Inc to attend the 2019 Be Free Event at Mangonui.

■ Community groups wishing to apply for funding should go to www.fndc.govt.nz/services/ community for details.