Winter 2026 funding round
In September, the Transpower CommunityCare Fund panel selected 11 community projects across the country to receive a grant in the Winter 2026 funding round. A. The successful recipients are listed below and were selected from the 74 applications received.
The total Winter 2026 grant amount was $146,599.56.
| Organisation | Project | Council Area | Amount Granted | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAPVRA - Hunua Ararimu & Paparimu Valleys Residents Association | Emergency Radios for the Three Valleys Community | Auckland | $15,000 | Purchase long-range emergency radios for Community Response Team volunteers. |
| Cambridge Community House Trust | Community House Maintenance | Cambridge | $15,000 | Sound-sealing, heat-pump servicing, toilet extractor fans, LED lighting and non-slip surface upgrades. |
| Etu Rakau | Wai Kowhai Intermediate Food Forest (Wild Hua) | Auckland | $15,000 | Purchasing low-growing fruit trees, nursery materials, ground cover and tools, for an educational food forest. |
| The Kids in Need Waikato Charitable Trust | Care Packs for Kids in Need | Cambridge | $13,000 | purchase thermal blankets, winter clothing, shoes, pyjamas, underwear, socks, toiletries and other essentials for seasonal and emergency care packs. |
| Our Waitarakao project | Oakwood Stream Enhancement | Tirmaru | $11,227.56 | Purchase 1,000 native plants, plant guards, weed mats and stakes, and cover site preparation. |
| Otama Catchment Group | Under the umbrella of Thriving Southland | Otama Catchment Group Environmental Works Project | Southland | $14,800 | Supporting wetland and riparian restoration works, including the establishment of approximately 250 native plants. |
| Age Concern Auckland Trust | Future-proofing Warmth: Energy Efficiency for older Aucklanders | Auckland | $10,000 | The purchase of thermal curtains, LED lighting, draught-stopping materials and energy-efficient heaters. |
| Māngere Mountain Education Trust | Te Maara o Hine Puu te hue | Auckland | $7,572 | Building a purpose-designed trellised teaching garden for growing hue (bottle gourds) using traditional Māori cultivation methods. |
| Mangere Tongan Methodist | Mangere Tongan Methodist Kumara Project | Auckland | $15,000 | Preparing and maintaining land used to grow kumara and vegetables. |
| Paparimu School Parent Teacher Association | Solar Heating for Paparimu School Community Pool | Auckland | $15,000 | Purchase and installation of solar panels and associated infrastructure for the community swimming pool’s heating system. |
| Arowhenua Māori School Board of Trustees | Toitū Māori School Board of Trustees | Timaru | $15,000 | Double-glazing the windows of the historic 1895 school hall. |