The NZ Mountain Film Festival Charitable Trust (MFFCT) has announced $5,580 in grants from funds raised through its charity auction in June.

The Trust, which promotes “healthy and active lifestyles” through its annual mountain film festival, has been divvying up funds since 2013 for youth development, inspiring people to reach their full potential and helping people with disabilities get into outdoor activities.

The festival hosts a National Tour and funds raised through it are granted to successful applicants.

Recipients from this year include Wānaka’s M!NT Charitable Trust, which received $1,000 for a three-day mountain programme, alongside Cardrona Alpine Resort, to deliver a safe and supportive environment for those with intellectual disabilities to participate in skiing and snowboarding.

Wānaka Backyard Trapping received $830 to complete a full circuit of protection, via ground-placed mammalian traps, around Mount Iron. 

The MINT Charitable Trust received funding for a three-day mountain programme, alongside Cardrona Alpine Resort to deliver a safe and supportive environment for those with intellectual disabilities to participate in skiing and snowboarding.

Rare endemic wildlife in the reserve includes tomtits, brown creepers, NZ falcons, Kawarau geckos and tussock skinks.

MFFCT said the trapping project will continue the focus of increasing native biodiversity – plants, birds, lizards and invertebrates – through ongoing pest eradication. 

Wānaka’s Kahu Youth received $1,500 to support its 'Youth vs Wild' programme for local rangatahi. 

The two-day intensive programme is loosely based upon the television series 'Man vs Wild' teaching youth basic survival skills and participating in thrilling activities in nature. The programme will be facilitated by professional adventure guides and supported by two Youth Development workers with a capacity for 10 young people in the programme.

Whenua Iti Outdoors received $1,000 from the MFFCT towards purchasing a beach wheelchair. 

Whenua Iti offers an amputee family camp, and said the beach wheelchair will be a major asset.

Last year the group ran a camp for 8-12 year olds with physical disabilities. A stand up paddle board that was funded by the MMFCT came into its own during this camp, ensuring that those tamariki who were not confident or able to paddleboard on their own were still able to experience the joy of being on the water. 

The Diamond Lake Conservation Trust received $1,250 to assist in setting up a new trapline along the Motatapu River. 

Find out more about the NZ Mountain Film Festival Grant Scheme here.

The 23rd NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival will take place in Wānaka next year from June 20-24 and Queenstown from June 26-27.

PHOTOS: Supplied