Andrew ClearwaterManaging Director,
(Chairman, Mazda Foundation NZ)
Mazda Motor of New Zealand (MMNZ) is supporting various activities through Mazda Foundation New Zealand.
Mazda Foundation New Zealand (MMNZ), established in November 2005, has been providing funds to various initiatives, including education, environmental conservation, and culture. It has contributed over NZ$1.2 million to over 300 recipients since its establishment.
To provide outdoor and environmental education
MMNZ provided grants for purchasing a raft for a river safety education program of Peel Forest, which runs a series of programs designed to help young people experience, learn and grow their potential through outdoor pursuit activities.
To promote environmental education
MMNZ provided grants to National Wetland Trust to assist in producing a brochure as a guide to the walking tracks of the Southland Wetland heritage trail.
The Trust encourages New Zealanders to visit and appreciate the country's rare and special wetlands.
To protect endangered birdlife
MMNZ provided grants to Chatham Island Taiko Trust to set a burrow scope to monitor breeding habit of the Taiko.*1 The trust has conserved the Taiko and other unique Chatham Island birdlife since 1998.
- *1Middle-sized Gadfly Petrel Bird, an endangered species
To support fostering students' interest in music
MMNZ provided grants for buying ukuleles and recording equipment for the East Otago High School music department, with the aim of fostering students' interest in the arts and giving all students the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument.
To support under-nourished children
MMNZ provided grants to Angelslight Breakfast Club for purchasing commercial dishwashers, which should allow volunteers to clean up quickly and ensure the program's extremely strict hygiene standards. The club located in South Auckland has helped the program's volunteers provide nourishing breakfasts for hungry school children.
Free support services for the wellbeing of children under the age of five
MMNZ provided grants to RNZ Plunket Society for the purchase of 60 child seats to be lent for parents of young children. The Society is the largest provider of free and wide ranging support services for the development, health and wellbeing of children under five in New Zealand.
To support and encourage Maori performing arts for school children
MMNZ provided grants to Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepou School to assist in replacing their 30 year old Kapahaka uniforms so that the school team could proudly represent their school in national Kapahaka competitions.*2
- *2Kapa and haka are Maori words meaning group and dance, respectively.
Overseas activities primarily covers the period from January 2011 through December 2011, although some activities after January 2012 are included.