Wairoa

Several Wairoa organisations are to receive donations from the Eastern and Central Community Trust, with the largest of $10,000 going towards the cost of the Wairoa Maori Film Festival which was held over Queens Birthday Weekend.

The money goes to Te Roopu Whakaata Maori it te Wairoa which runs the festival, now in its third year and is a showcase for Maori creativity and talent.

This year’s celebration of Maori and indigenous film paid tribute to early film pioneers, Witarina Harris, who passed away last year aged 101, Don Selwyn and Barry Barclay.

“The film festival is becoming a regular attraction on the New Zealand arts calendar and the donation is aimed at helping the organisers to build it into a self-funding, commercially successful event,” says Eastern and Central Community Trust Donations Manager Bev Watkins.

The organisers received a $20,000 donation from the community trust last year.

A donation of $8,000 goes to the Wairoa Museum for new software that records and documents its collections, including precious items on loan or contributed by the community.  An appropriate collection management database will be useful for assisting people with various research projects and providing public access to the collection. Accurate documentation will also assist staff who plan exhibitions and run education programmes.

Mahia Golf Club receives $4,000 towards the cost of a new set of mowers although more fundraising is needed to cover the cost of the new equipment which will replace old gear that is frequently breaking down.

back to top