An enduring gift for the city Mark helped to build.

“I made my money in Wellington, and I plan to leave it here when I go,” says Wellington property developer and committed philanthropist Sir Mark Dunajtschik.

Sir Mark Dunajtschik and Dorothy Spotswood. Image credit: Stephen A’Court

For those who know Sir Mark, these plans will come as no surprise. Sir Mark, together with his life and business partner Dorothy Spotswood, has a long history of giving back to our city. From being an early supporter of the Michael Fowler Centre and what is now the Life Flight Trust to the new Wellington Regional Children’s Hospital Ta Wao Nui in Newtown and, most recently, a commitment to fund a mental health unit at Hutt Hospital, it’s difficult to walk down the street without passing a tactile reminder of the couple’s generosity.

This impressive drive to give back was seeded in Sir Mark’s childhood. A native German born in the former Yugoslavia, Sir Mark spent three of his formative years imprisoned in a WWII concentration camp under Marshall Tito’s rule of Yugoslavia before settling in Germany as a refugee. Finding work as a tool maker, Sir Mark stayed in accommodation that also housed people with disabilities while he completed his apprenticeship. It was the combination of these two life-changing experiences that brought Sir Mark’s attention to those less fortunate and set the scene for a lifetime of philanthropy.

Hands-on philanthropy

From his professional beginnings as a tool maker to becoming a heavy hitter in Wellington’s property development industry, Sir Mark’s working style is emblematically hands on. In fact, seeing him halfway up a ladder replacing a light bulb or pacing down Featherston Street to let the electrician in would not be uncommon.

His approach to philanthropy is similar. “Sometimes ‘philanthropy’ is seen as writing a cheque and walking away, but I’ve never been like that,” says Sir Mark.

For Te Wao Nui, this meant commissioning private construction contractors to expedite the project, and for his philanthropic succession plan, it meant proactively finding a safe pair of hands to carry on his legacy.

A safe pair of hands

Leaving a gift in his will is always something that Sir Mark planned on doing. “Dorothy and I have had our bit in life, so now we want to make sure our good fortune is passed on to others,” he explains.

But Sir Mark had a specific vision in mind and wanted to make sure he found the perfect strategic partner to execute his giving goals. His number one criterion? His estate had to stay in the Greater Wellington region.

“Wellington has been my home for nearly 60 years. This place gave me my first leg-up in life, and I wanted to reinvest in the city that made me,” says Sir Mark.

He also wanted his legacy to have an enduring impact. “The last thing I wanted was to donate the money only for it to be spent down within a few years. It needed to have staying power and continue to give back for years after I’ve kicked the bucket.”

As the Greater Wellington region’s community foundation, Nikau Foundation was a great fit for Sir Mark’s future giving goals. “I had been following Nikau for a number of years – since the Foundation had only one fund on the books. Nikau is focused on local, and I trust them implicitly to give in the way I want.”

Giving people a step up

Consistent with many of his philanthropic endeavours to date, Sir Mark’s gift will provide practical support to people living with disability. “I always say that people born with good health can make their own way, but some are in need of a bit of extra help.”

With deep roots in the community and a robust corporate trusteeship offering, Nikau Foundation was perfectly placed to honour Sir Mark’s vision.

“We are so proud to be chosen as the guardian of this incredible gift to Wellington,” says Nikau Foundation Chair Dame Fran Wilde. “It is an honour to continue Sir Mark’s legacy in this incredibly meaningful way.”

An enduring impact

Sir Mark has made an enduring commitment to our region by leaving a bequest to establish a foundation in his name. Once operational, grants will make a transformational difference in the lives of the people living with disability.

“We are so proud for this opportunity to come to fruition and acknowledge the people who have helped us get to this point. We are delighted to be working with Sir Mark to shape what will become The Mark Dunajtschik Foundation,” says Nikau Foundation Executive Director Emma Lewis. “Mark and Dorothy have a very clear vision,” says Emma. “We are privileged to be playing a role in ensuring this is realised, long into the future.”

As you wander around the city, look up. This is the city that Mark helped to build, and this is where his legacy will continue to make a difference forever.