Seven Wānaka organisations have received grants from the $180,000 pool in this year’s Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) Community Fund.

QLDC community partnerships manager Marie Day said the district-wide fund focused on supporting initiatives that deliver strong wellbeing outcomes and reflect community needs.

“Despite the relatively limited funding, we were delighted to be able to support an impressive range of projects and organisations that look to make a meaningful impact, enhancing the wellbeing and connectivity of our community,” Marie said.

“From youth and environmental initiatives to arts, culture and social services, the 28 successful applicants represent the vibrant diversity of our district and the dedication of those working to make it better.”

Local recipients included Abbeyfield Wānaka, Aspiring Beginnings Early Learning Centre, Hāwea Charitable Trust, OUT&about Wānaka, Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust, Upper Clutha Senior Citizens, and Predator Free Wānaka.

Some of the successful recipients presented their submissions to QLDC in May, including Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust.

Te Kākano manager Loran Verpillot told councillors in May the trust was seeking funding to hire contractors for maintenance at its plant nursery.

Each year the trust grows approximately 5,000 native plants at the nursery before planting them on public land, but the maintenance associated with the nursery is costly.

The work Te Kākano does “impacts the community at large and the environment”, Loran said.

Among the other grant recipients are many that operate district-wide, including KnowYourStuffNZ, which provides free, discreet drug-testing services.

Applications for the 2025-2026 Community Fund closed on April 30 and were assessed by a panel of elected members and staff, with the final decisions made at last week’s full council meeting.

In the same meeting QLDC finalised the recipients for the Events Fund - another annual fund - with local events Challenge Wānaka Festival, Ripe, Warbirds Over Wānaka, Wānaka A&P Show, Aspiring Conversations, Wao Summit and the Pride Street Party all receiving funding.

PHOTO: Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust