The Joan Fernie Charitable Trust, fueled by earnings from its major pastoral farming operations, has announced $511,189 in charitable grants, with a focus on Wairoa.

This follows a “modernisation” process, including a Board refresh, that was triggered in 2022 when complaints emerged regarding the Trust’s extremely low distributions.

In October 2025 new chair Mike Barham previewed the new direction and its grant-making plans to Farmers Weekly, saying the funding round planned for early 2026 (and now awarded as described below) marked a “significant milestone” for the trust. 

He said: “The Joan Fernie Charitable Trust has completed its comprehensive modernisation process and is now well-placed to deliver meaningful, sustained community benefit across Hawke’s Bay.”

“This $500,000 distribution represents our commitment to substantial community investment, not token gestures. We’re moving from an internal focus to external community impact, and this funding round demonstrates our enhanced operational capacity to support the organisations and communities that matter most to our region.”

The grants announced this week will see $511,189 distributed to 47 organisations across the Hawke’s Bay region, with a focus on Wairoa, especially hard-hit by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Across 47 recipients, that’s an average grant of almost $11k. For many smaller grantees, a major shot in the arm; for larger organisations, not so much. Without question, with 116 funding applicants, the Trust would have undertaken careful vetting and painful winnowing. Still, having spread its funding widely in this first round, the Trust might consider targeting fewer, larger grants in the future to optimise its funding impact. The objective is not cultivating broad community goodwill; it is making a difference.

Among the successful Wairoa recipients are the Wairoa Young Achievers Trust, the Wairoa Community Development Trust, Adventure Wairoa Incorporated, and the Wairoa A & P Society – organisations working across community development, youth leadership, agricultural heritage, and outdoor education.

“The Trust understands intimately what Cyclone Gabrielle recovery means for rural Hawke’s Bay communities,” says JFCT Trustee and Community Funding lead, Ana Apatu. “Our own stations faced extensive damage, and we’ve spent nearly two years rebuilding infrastructure and operations. That shared experience of recovery has reinforced our commitment to supporting the rural communities and organisations that are the backbone of this region.”

“Three years on from Cyclone Gabrielle, rural communities like Wairoa continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience, and we’re privileged to support organisations doing vital work to strengthen community wellbeing, preserve agricultural heritage, and create opportunities for rangatahi. This is substantial, sustained investment in rural Hawke’s Bay’s future – and that’s exactly what these communities deserve.”

The Trust’s inaugural community funding round attracted 116 applications from across Hawke’s Bay, requesting a total of more than $3.7 million in funding, demonstrating the strong demand for charitable support in the region. The $511,189 distributed in the 2025-26 community funding round represents meaningful community investment made possible through the Trust’s strategic modernisation and improved farming operations.

“The response to our first funding round has exceeded expectations and validates our decision to modernise operations and establish transparent, accountable funding processes,” Ms Apatu said. “We’re now well-positioned to provide regular, reliable distributions to support Hawke’s Bay communities into the future.”

Barham and Apatu are joined on the Trust Board by Edward Bostock of Bramwell Bate lawyers and Marcus Bousfield of ANZ Bank.

The Trust reports it has established clear priority funding areas including community development, education and skills development, sustainable agriculture and environment, and health and wellbeing, with priority consideration given to initiatives benefiting communities near the Trust’s farming operations.

Looking ahead, the Trust plans to hold annual funding rounds, with details to be announced in the second half of the calendar year. Information about future funding opportunities will be made available at joanfernietrust.org.nz/community-funding.

Here is the full list of organisations funded:

Adventure Wairoa Incorporated
AgFirst
Ahuriri Tributaries Catchment Group Trust
Aorangi Māori Trust Board, on behalf of Te Rongo O Whatumā
Arts Inc.
Between the Two Rivers Community Catchment Collective
Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay
Central Connect Whare Manaaki
Cranford Hospice
East Coast Rural Support Trust
Elsthorpe School
Growing Future Farmers Trust
Guardians of Tutira and Districts Incorporated
Hastings Group Riding for the Disabled Association Incorporated
Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society Inc
Hawke’s Bay Foundation
Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopter Trust
Hawke’s Bay Sheep Dog Trial Association
Heart Kids NZ – Hawke’s Bay
Heretaunga Women’s Centre
Kereru Hall Society
Kotemaori School
Little Elms Charitable Trust
Mangateretere School Board
Maraekākaho Church Hall Trust
Mates of Hawke’s Bay Charitable Trust (Mates4Life)
Napier Boys’ High School
Nourished for Nil
Ocean Beach Kiwi Surf Life Saving Club Incorporated
Pākōwhai War Memorial Board Inc
Pōrangahau Catchment Group / Taurekaitai ki Te Paerahi
Pregnancy Help Hastings & Napier
Putere Community Association Incorporated
Putorino School
Re-Source Charitable Trust
Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand Trust
Takapau Community Health Charitable Trust
Te Kura o Mohaka
Tōmoana Showgrounds
Tutira Kindergarten
Waikare and Districts Sports Club
Wairoa Agricultural and Pastoral Society
Wairoa Community Development Trust
Wairoa Young Achievers Trust
Waiwhare Community Centre
Wallingford Cricket Club
Weave Hawke’s Bay