TANGLEWOOD FOUNDATION

According to its website, the Tanglewood Foundation was created to provide funding for various conservation and education projects around the world.

It all started when founder Peter Eastwood, a native of New Zealand, fell in love with Africa thanks to the Wilbur Smith books he read as a teenager. In light of his desire to make a positive impact on conservation issues, it was inevitable that once he had sold his business, he would split his time between New Zealand and South Africa, says the website.

Eastwood first became involved with helping to save the rhino. “Through his frequent travel, Eastwood learnt about the poaching of rhinos and the threat of extinction they were under. He knew he had to do something to help,” it continues.

He helped to raise funds for projects in Southern Africa, primarily aimed at combating rhino poaching. It was important to him that all funds raised were distributed in the most value-effective ways possible, with absolutely no administration costs taken out of the donations. All projects were handpicked by experts in their fields and visited regularly to update on progress.

The Tanglewood Foundation also supports projects in New Zealand. Firstly, Eastwood helped community-based action group Kiwis Against Seabed Mining with funding towards their appeal against the proposed seabed mining along the West Coast region of that country, which was successful.

The Tanglewood Foundation is also funding the building of a new educational facility at Zealandia, a wildlife sanctuary in Wellington, and recently helped fund the Earth Building Association of New Zealand’s building regulations, assisting New Zealanders to build legal earth buildings, which are made from organic materials.

Eastwood also partnered with his daughter Stacey to start Tanglewood Retreat, an eco-retreat near Auckland that plants a native tree for every booking.