Filling the gaps others don’t reach
The financial challenges involved in organising volunteer conservation work led a Hamilton couple to set up a philanthropic investment fund to fill the funding gaps faced by the region’s nature groups.
Selwyn and Dianne June first established the Waikato Hauraki Conservation Fund at Momentum Waikato with a significant donation in late 2021, which was during the Covid pandemic, so they only started grantmaking and promoting it to environmental networks in late 2023.
Five conservation projects around the Waikato benefited from those first grants - Kakepuku Mountain Conservation Society for trap refills and bait; Rings Beach Wetland Group Inc for possum, mustelid and rat traps; Kaitiakitanga Charitable Trust for engaging youth on pest control and riparian planting projects; Roselle Gould for predator traps near a stream and wetland at Whangamata; and Holthuizer Farm near Walton for riparian planting.
The Junes’ intent is to provide a long-term funding source for conservation work anywhere in the wider Waikato region, that the public can support with donations.
Poll: Does a savoury scone require cheese on top, or folded inside?
Help settle the great kiwi debate ... cheese on top, or folded inside?
-
76.4% Inside!
-
23.6% On top!
‘Simply irresponsible’: Wallaby likely kept as pet in Hamilton, regional council says
A wallaby spotted in Hamilton was probably kept as a pet, the regional council says - and that’s “simply irresponsible”.
The dama wallaby, which had an immature joey in its pouch, was spotted in Frankton on March 3, reported and killed, Waikato Regional Council says.
The 23-carat pie that could be New Zealand’s most expensive
The Baker Tīrau has created what might be New Zealand's most luxurious, and expensive, take on a Kiwi classic steak and cheese pie and is auctioning it off for a good cause.
Made with wagyu beef, French red wine, the most expensive cheese he could get his hands on, and topped with 23-carat gold flakes, award-winning baker Shane Kearns is auctioning off his unique steak and cheese pie to raise funds for local volunteer fire-fighters.
Loading…
