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Big funding boosts for local groups 

The Wānaka App

16 June 2025, 5:04 PM

Big funding boosts for local groups Local organisations like Community Link have benefitted from CLT funding.

Wānaka organisations have received more than $1M in grant support from Central Lakes Trust (CLT) in its last two funding rounds, with around a dozen local groups benefitting from funding.


Most of the funding in April and May went to multi-year operational grants, CLT chief executive Barbara Bridger said.



"We believe in building long-term relationships with our grantees, and offering multi-year grants towards operational costs is one way we support that,” she said.


“Multi-year grants provide greater certainty around funding and enable more confident long-term planning for organisations."


Seven Wānaka organisations received operational grants totalling more than $800K.



WAI Wānaka received $125,000; Wānaka Search and Rescue received $55,000; Community Link received $192,606; Food for Love received $123,934; Kahu Youth received $267,509; M!NT received $45,290; and Wānaka Riding for the Disabled received $12,840.


Local groups also secured project grants during the same period.


Snow Farm NZ received $42,000 for its base building ablution and water facility; Tarras School received $35,000 for its playground update; and the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust received $97,466 for its new Hāwea River trail. 


Read more: Progress on river track upgrades


Wānaka Tennis Club also received $35,000 for its court resurfacing and clubroom upgrade; Youth Search and Rescue Trust received $40,000 for equipment for its new Wānaka branch; and Onstage Wānaka received $19,080 towards its upcoming Blood Brothers production.


Read more: Funding to support busy tennis club  


Across Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes, more than $8M was granted in the two funding rounds.


PHOTO: Supplied