Marae Installs Water Tank Thanks to New Community Resilience Fund

Wellington’s Nikau Foundation is on a mission to increase grants available for community resilience projects around the Region. The Foundation is building a new “Wellington Resilience Fund” and while the fundraising is ongoing, it has already funded its first project. “When it comes to community resilience, every day counts” says Louise Parkin, Nikau Foundation’s General Manager. “You just never know when the next big event will be so we want to get as many resilience projects funded as possible.”

Thanks to their partnership with the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) and The Tank Guy, an 800 litre water tank is being installed at Ōrongomai Marae in Upper Hutt - an urban-based marae of Te Atiawa that provides for all iwi away from their ukaipo.

“Small contributions to help provide water tanks to community organisations like marae can make a big difference in their ability to assist their communities during times of stress. Ōrongomai Marae is a great candidate for this type of initiative because of the important role they play before, during and after an emergency”, says Dan Neely, Manager of Community Resilience at the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office.

Nikau Foundation plans to fund more water tanks and other projects that build resilience through the Resilience Fund and have asked the people and businesses in the Wellington Region to assist. A Pledge Me campaign with a goal of $20,000 is on track for success through sales of the Wellington Resilience Bar. As part of annual joint venture with the Wellington Chocolate Factory, a proportion each chocolate bar sold goes directly in to the Wellington Resilience Fund. It is the perfect complement to office or home emergency kits.

Donations and orders for the Wellington Resilience Bar can be made via the Pledge Me site at https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/5653-the-wellington-resilience-fund-givewhereyoulive, via their website at www.nikaufoundation.org.nz or by phone on 0800 986 7443. Nikau Foundation is also keen to hear what resilience projects need funding across the region so they invite Wellingtonians to fill out the form on the Resilience Fund page on their website to help build a picture how the Nikau Foundation might contribute to their resilience.

ENDS

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