The communities of Māngere and Ōtāhuhu are immeasurably better off thanks to over $300,000 worth of grants being distributed by the local board over the last 18 months.
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board has approved quick-response and local board grants worth $338,252 to organisations and groups focused on the local board’s priorities and outcomes as part of the 2017/2018 and 2018/19 grant rounds. However, there are still further grants to be announced for the 2018/2019 grant rounds.
Local board chair Lemauga Lydia Sosene says the grants programme enables the board to empower a range of groups in areas that match the local board’s desired outcomes for the region.
“The local board has identified a number of outcomes that we aspire for Māngere-Ōtāhuhu and it is pleasing to be able to partner with so many community organisations to help bring about these outcomes.”
The local board’s chosen outcomes include seeing that Māngere-Ōtāhuhu has: a strong local economy, is the heart of Māori and Pasifika arts and culture, is a place where environment and heritage are protected, enhanced and preserved, is a well-connected area, has a range of facilities to meet diverse needs and is a place where communities thrive and belong.
The board has two types of grants.
The quick-response grant is for smaller requests ($2000 and under). It is offered up to three times a year. Local board grants are for amounts of $2000 or more and are offered up to twice times a year.
More than 100 grants have been given out, with the largest amount being $25,000 for the hugely successful Pacific Fusion Fashion Show which was held at Ambury Farm, Māngere Bridge, helping showcase the best of Māori and Pasifika creativity to an international audience.
“We are just as happy to support big events like the Pacific Fusions Fashion Show, as well as the less expensive requests, like those from our hardworking education providers who need grants to pay for much-needed equipment,” Lemauga Lydia Sosene says.
Visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/funding to find out how to apply for funding for events or community initiatives.
