The Joan Fernie Charitable Trust (JFCT) today announced the opening of its first major community funding round, with $500,000 available for distribution to eligible Hawke’s Bay organisations before March 2026.
The announcement marks a significant milestone for the Trust, which has completed a comprehensive modernisation process, including establishing a formal Funding Policy to guide transparent, accountable charitable distributions across the region.
“The Joan Fernie Charitable Trust has completed its comprehensive modernisation process and is now well-placed to deliver meaningful, sustained community benefit across Hawke’s Bay,” says Trust Chair, Mike Barham.
“This $500,000 distribution represents our commitment to substantial community investment, not token gestures. We’re moving from an internal focus to external community impact, and this funding round demonstrates our enhanced operational capacity to support the organisations and communities that matter most to our region.”
The Trust has positioned itself to provide regular, reliable distributions in the future through a strategic approach that includes improving farming operations to place the stations’ production in the top 10% of New Zealand farms and diversifying the Trust’s income both within and outside of farming to reduce vulnerability to seasonal and pricing fluctuations that affect sheep and beef farming.
Mr Barham emphasised that this distribution has only been made possible through exceptional teamwork across the Trust’s operations.
“Our General Manager Farming, Danny Angland, his station managers, and their farm staff have all contributed greatly to creating the financial capacity for this distribution, and I’m hugely appreciative of the collaborative effort that has made this distribution possible.”
The Trust’s three stations sustained significant damage during Cyclone Gabrielle. Nearly two years on, repairs are almost complete, with the Trust taking advantage of the opportunity to rebuild infrastructure in ways that better support modern, sustainable farming practices.
“While Cyclone Gabrielle delivered a huge financial hit to our operations, we’ve used the situation to rebuild more strategically for the future,” Mr Barham said.
The Trust has established clear priority funding areas including Community Development, Education & Skills Development, Sustainable Agriculture & Environment, and Health & Wellbeing. Organisations can apply for grants of up to $50,000 through the Trust’s new community funding portal at joanfernietrust.org.nz/community-funding.
“We’re committed to charitable transparency in everything we do,” says Trustee and Community Funding lead, Ana Apatu.
“Our new Funding Policy provides clear guidance for potential applicants, with transparent assessment criteria and timely decision-making. We value collaborative approaches and are particularly focused on supporting initiatives that benefit communities located close to our farming operations, while remaining open to supporting the wider Hawke’s Bay region and beyond when the need arises.”
The Trust is seeking applications from registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, and educational institutions operating within the Hawke’s Bay region or delivering initiatives that directly benefit the region’s residents. Priority will be given to initiatives demonstrating clear community benefit, sustainability, and alignment with the Trust’s agricultural heritage.
Ms. Apatu emphasised the Trust’s commitment to equity and inclusion.
“We’re committed to supporting diverse communities, particularly those who are underrepresented or face barriers to participation. Whether it’s supporting rural infrastructure, educational scholarships, environmental restoration, or healthcare access in rural and farming communities, we want to ensure our funding creates positive, sustainable outcomes for Hawke’s Bay’s people, land, economy, and environment.”
Applications for the 2025-26 funding round must be submitted through the Trust’s website portal by the closing date of Sunday, 30 November 2025. The Trust’s Funding Committee will assess applications based on alignment with funding priorities, demonstrated community benefit, project feasibility, and organisational capability.
About the Joan Fernie Charitable Trust
Established in 1977, the Joan Fernie Charitable Trust operates three substantial farming properties totalling over 7,200 hectares across Hawke’s Bay: Chesterhope Station at Pakowhai, Moeangiangi Station at Putorino, and Mangatapiri Station at Elsthorpe. The Trust honours the legacy of Joan Fernie, whose family was once the second largest landowner in the North Island.
The Trust is committed to supporting the Hawke’s Bay community by prioritising education for young people and the wellbeing and development of local communities. The Trust operates as a responsible and transparent steward of its resources, ensuring funding decisions contribute to long-term, meaningful outcomes for Hawke’s Bay.
As part of its commitment to agricultural education leadership, the Trust recently partnered with the Waipaoa Farm Cadet Training Trust to establish the Moeangiangi Station Cadet Training Trust, continuing 17 years of excellence in developing agricultural leaders. The station will benefit from significant capital investment including purpose-built facilities at the 3,655-hectare Moeangiangi Station, with the first intake of cadets planned for 2027.
The Joan Fernie Charitable Trust’s community funding application and guidelines are available online: joanfernietrust.org.nz/community-funding/