The Hauraki Gulf Charitable Trust was established in 1997 with funding from the then Waikato Regional Council and later changed its name in 2010 to the Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust. The objective of the Trust is to initiate and support environmental projects in the Hauraki Gulf (Tīkapa Moana). The Trust has been active in projects on Great Barrier Island, Motuihe Island and Waiheke Island that include replanting, tree pruning, research, conservation, provision of water fountain to encourage recycling, pest eradication and the Waiheke Walking Festival as a means to showcase such projects.
The Trust has provided financial support through grants from Foundation North / G.I.F.T (previously the ASB Community Trust) for various projects on Waiheke Island: the Friends of Te Toki/Okahuiti Wetland Restoration project, the McKenzie Reserve Education Hub, the Waiheke Schools Wetland Restoration, Mawhitipana (Little Palm Beach) and Mary Wilson reserve and the Awaarowaroa Bay Bush Track.
From November 2013 until November 2016, the Trust took over the running of the Waiheke Walking Festival with funding from Auckland Council/The Waiheke Local Board, Foundation North, Lotteries Commission and Fullers. In 2017 the Festival was handed over to a new trust “The Waiheke Walking Trust” specifically set up to run it
Other projects include a pest-control programme that led to the formation of Te Korowai O Waiheke (Predator Free Waiheke) – in conjunction with the Waiheke Collective and an environmental signage project including kauri die-back disease, As part of the Waiheke Collective we have also been a key part of the Waiheke Marine Project
The Trust’s objectives are:
- To protect, restore and enhance the natural environment in and around the Hauraki Gulf (Tīkapa Moana).
- To initiate, support and help implement conservation and environmental projects for the benefit of Hauraki Gulf (Tīkapa Moana), its communities and the general public.
- To assist conservation, environmental and community groups in raising funds for conservation and environmental projects in and around Hauraki Gulf (Tīkapa Moana).
- To support conservation and environmental research projects which have educational opportunities.
- To provide “umbrella” funding applications for other conservation, environmental and community groups.
The Trust is interested to hear from anyone proposing a conservation project around Hauraki Gulf (Tīkapa Moana) or who is looking to get involved as a volunteer in some way in a conservation project on the island.
The Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust
The Trust is a small voluntary group of up to eight Trustees and a Patron who are currently residents on Waiheke Island. We are a charity registered with the Charities Commission with a Tax Exempt status and fully audited accounts. There are no paid staff and 100 percent of funds donated to or raised by the Trust goes towards helping our environment through the various programmes and projects we are involved in.
Current Trustees of The Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust
Chairperson | Ian Burrows |
Treasurer | Lindsay Jeffs |
Trustees | Richard Margesson |
Karla Allies | |
Monica Valdes | |
Tane Feary | |
Sam Dyson Linda Tizard |