It is our pleasure to bring you Nikau Foundation’s 2023 Impact Report.

This year has been transformative for Nikau in so many ways. As an organisation, we have welcomed new donors, delivered almost $1.2 million in funding to support the people and places of our region, committed nine new funds that will give back long into the future and worked alongside two iconic Wellington sites to establish legacies so they can be visited, admired and enjoyed for generations to come.

Having introduced the role of Funding and Relationships Manager in mid-2022, we continue to build key relationships with not-for-profits, other funders and philanthropic networks, iwi, hapū and tangata whenua, and people on the front lines. As a result, we have gained a deeper understanding of the challenges facing our communities so we can deliver funding support that is more effective and practical while connecting donors with causes that are close to their hearts.

With the uncertainty of the past few years, we are continuing to see shifts in generosity whereby individuals, trusts and organisations are thinking about giving in more strategic, future-focused ways. Through our intergenerational model, Nikau is well placed to ensure that donors’ generosity goes further, that community organisations are sustainable and that trusts have secured their next chapter.

In perhaps the most extraordinary example of transformative giving, we were delighted to formally announce the establishment of The Mark Dunajtschik Foundation, of which Nikau will be trustee. The Foundation will be realised through a bequest and make a significant difference in the lives of people living with a disability. We thank Sir Mark and Dorothy for their generosity and the trust they have placed in us to continue their philanthropic legacy long into the future. Nikau is now the guardian of almost $32 million.

Combined with trusteeships, including the Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation, this brings our total funds under management to just under $80 million. This is a significant legacy that will give back to generation after generation of Wellingtonians, and as more people join us, our impact and reach will continue to grow.

We exist in perpetuity, and our role as a community foundation will inevitably change as we grow, as our communities face new challenges and as philanthropy evolves in Aotearoa New Zealand. While building reliable, accessible funding streams will always remain our priority goal, we also have a wider opportunity to harness and grow generosity and take a leadership role in the philanthropic sector so we can influence systemic change.

To ensure Nikau is fit for purpose and for the future, we actively invested in our resourcing, processes and strategy in 2023. Through this investment, we are building a more robust and resilient organisation that is poised to take on the challenges and opportunities of the future.

We farewelled trustees Rebecca Morahan in December 2022 and Susan Hornsby-Geluk in June 2023. Long-standing trustees Adrienne Olsen and Richard Caughley both retired at Nikau’s AGM in December 2023. Warmest thanks to all of you for the time, expertise and passion you channelled into your roles.

It’s said that it takes a village to raise a child – and it also takes a village to deliver positive change for our communities. To our team, volunteer trustees, local committee members, supporters, donors and advocates, we thank you for your continued support of Nikau.

Together, we are creating a thriving Te Upoko-o-te-Ika-a-Māui, the Greater Wellington region.

Ngā mihi nui