Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini
My strength is not that of one, but of many.

Tēnā koutou,

As Chief Executive, I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside the people and organisations that make Rotorua such a special place. Every day, I see the passion, generosity and commitment that exists across our community, and I am continually reminded that the greatest impact is achieved when we work together.

This year marked a leadership change for Rotorua Trust, with Cathy Cooney taking the role of Chairperson. Cathy brings a wealth of governance and leadership experience. She is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management, a Judicial Justice of the Peace and former chief executive of Lakes DHB. Her experience and commitment to service provide valuable guidance as we build on the strong foundations established by previous Trustees. This year also saw the election of three new Trustees, bringing fresh perspectives and diversity to the Board table.

Collaboration has been the cornerstone of Rotorua Trust’s mahi over the past year. We have strengthened relationships both locally and nationally to explore how we can achieve greater impact together. Within Rotorua, we continue to work alongside iwi, community organisations, local government and other agencies, recognising that no one organisation can achieve lasting change alone.

A particularly special relationship valued by Rotorua Trust was with the late Ken Raureti, whose wisdom and guidance enriched the work of both our kaimahi and Trustees. Ken’s generosity, mana and knowledge of te ao Māori has encouraged us to continue learning and growing as an organisation. The whakaaro he shared will continue to shape our work and strengthen our commitment to those we are here to support. We are all greatly saddened by Ken’s recent passing and send our aroha to his whānau.

This year, Rotorua Trust distributed $4.5 million in community grants, and a further $2 million towards the Museum redevelopment as part of our $15 million total commitment. While demand consistently exceeds available funding, we remain committed to making thoughtful and equitable decisions that deliver the greatest benefit for Rotorua, both today and for generations to come.

Strong stewardship of the Trust’s investments remains essential to supporting Rotorua over the long term. The Trust achieved an investment return of 9.3% in the financial year. This strong performance helps protect and grow the Trust’s assets, ensuring we can continue supporting the people and organisations making a positive difference across Rotorua.

We have continued to expand our approach to impact investing. Through the Bay of Plenty Housing Equity Fund and our partnership with Habitat for Humanity, we are helping to create warm, healthy and affordable homes while delivering meaningful benefits across our rohe. These initiatives reflect our belief that investments can deliver positive outcomes alongside financial returns.

These achievements have been made possible through the dedication of our management team, advisors and trustees. Their professionalism and commitment underpin everything we do and have contributed to another positive year for Rotorua Trust, reflected in our strong financial result and clean audit report.

Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on impact investing, thoughtful grant-making and collaboration as we work to deliver positive and lasting outcomes for the people of Rotorua.

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Mō Tātou Katoa – For All of Us

Nāku iti noa, nā

Blair Gilbert
Chief Executive
Rotorua Trust