Each year hundreds of education and community groups across the greater Wellington region receive vital funding through the TG Macarthy Trust. Founded in 1912 by Wellington businessman Thomas George Macarthy, the Trust today supports initiatives that improve education, health and wellbeing in the lower North Island, with a focus on equity for Māori, Pasifika, and vulnerable communities. Proudly managed by Public Trust, it is one of New Zealand’s largest charitable trusts.
The trust supports a number of causes across the Greater Wellington region, through a mixture of contestable and annually-allocated grants. To learn more, expand the headings below.
We ask that you acknowledge support from the Trust by including the TG Macarthy logo in social media posts and promotional materials relating to your project, your website and annual report.
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The Trust aims to build strong, inclusive and equitable communities in its region. It will achieve this by providing funding based on equity and need, while honouring its commitment to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The Trust will fund:
Education and learning for children and young people, through regular granting to Kohanga Reo, Pacific Island language groups, kindergartens, playcentres, toy libraries, and primary, intermediate and secondary schools in the Trust region.
Initiatives that support those in greatest need, focusing on equity for:
Tamariki and rangatahi
Older people
Māori communities
Pasifika communities
Other ethnic communities
Rainbow communities
People living with diverse abilities and/or chronic health conditions
Communities or individuals facing hardship
The Trust will prioritise initiatives that provide social services including those that:
Address basic needs such as food, shelter, hygiene, personal safety, and access to essential items and services that support daily living.
Offer financial mentoring and budgeting support
Support youth wellbeing, development, and employment readiness
Reduce social isolation and foster connection
Improve access to mental health and wellbeing services
Assist refugees and migrants in settling and thriving
Support people to access and navigate essential services such as health, disability and income support services.
The Trust will also support initiatives that enable equitable participation and enjoyment of the arts and cultural activities.
The following values guide the trust's granting strategy.
The Trust is governed by the Thomas George Macarthy Trust Act (1936), which sets out the provisions for its Board of Governors to direct and appoint funding to charitable and educational purposes. The Board of Governors comprises those who from time to time hold the following positions:
Governor General of New Zealand
Prime Minister of New Zealand (or representative)
Mayor of Wellington
The Catholic Archbishop of Wellington.
Public Trust is responsible for administering the Thomas George Macarthy Trust. We’re committed to ensuring the Trust is safeguarded and grown to benefit current and future generations of the community.
Funding applications are received by the Trustee. Contestable grants are assessed and recommended by the Trustee and approved by the Board. Investment funding applications are considered by the Board at their annual meeting.
Organisation | Amount Awarded |
Manawatu Tenants' Union | $ 5,000 |
Amigos Peer Support Group (Wellington After Care Association Inc. is our fund holder and acts as our legal entity) | $ 5,000 |
Whanganui Creative Space | $ 5,000 |
Digital Seniors | $ 5,000 |
Levin Interchurch Foodbank (LIF) | $ 10,000 |
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Manawatu | $ 5,000 |
Meat the Need T/A Meet the Need | $ 5,000 |
Youthline Wellington Incorporated | $ 7,500 |
Citizens Advice Bureau Lower Hutt Incorporated | $ 5,500 |
Horowhenua District Health Transportation Trust | $ 5,000 |
Upper Hutt Womens Centre Incorporated | $ 10,000 |
Citizens Advice Bureau Porirua | $ 5,500 |
Awahou School Board | $ 5,000 |
Holy Family School | $ 5,000 |
Financial Freedom Trust | $ 5,000 |
Legacy Centre | $ 5,000 |
Hutt Valley Benefit Education Service Trust BEST | $ 5,000 |
Sustainable Whanganui Trust | $ 5,000 |
TalkLink Trust | $ 5,000 |
Wairarapa Citizens Advice Bureau | $ 5,500 |
Access Radio Wairarapa Charitable Trust | $ 5,000 |
Avalon Intermediate School | $ 5,000 |
Samaritans of Wellington Inc | $ 5,000 |
Malu o Alo Fā | $ 10,000 |
Palmerston North Street Van Incorporated | $ 5,000 |
The Salvation Army New Zealand Trust | $ 5,000 |
Zeal Youth Trust Aotearoa - Wellington | $ 5,000 |
Citizens Advice Bureau Palmerston North Incorporated | $ 5,500 |
Ignite Sport Trust | $ 8,000 |
YES Disability Resource Centre | $ 5,000 |
Nourish Trust | $ 5,000 |
Whanau/Family Support Services Trust | $ 5,000 |
Manchester House Social Services | $ 5,000 |
Upper Hutt Foodbank | $ 8,000 |
Zeal Youth Trust Aotearoa - Kapiti | $ 5,000 |
Big Brothers Big Sisters Wellington | $ 5,000 |
Age Concern Wellington Region Trust | $ 5,000 |
Ashhurst School | $ 5,000 |
Wellington Girls' College | $ 5,000 |
Wellington After-Care Association Incorporated (T/A Evaro) | $ 5,000 |
Muscular Dystrophy Association (Tuaatara Central Region) Incorporated | $ 5,000 |
Youth Cultures And Community Trust | $ 5,000 |
Levin Uniting Parish Operating as LEVIN UNITING - Church and Community Centre | $ 5,000 |
Citizens Advice Bureau Upper Hutt Incorporated | $ 5,500 |
Marton Food Pantry | $ 5,000 |
The Rare Disorders New Zealand Trust | $ 5,000 |
WIDance Trust | $ 5,000 |
RECAP | $ 5,000 |
Citizens Advice Bureau, Whanganui | $ 5,500 |
Feilding Community Patrol Incorporated | $ 5,831 |
Special Olympics Manawatu Trust | $ 5,000 |
Mental Ilness Survivors Team M.I.S.T | $ 5,000 |
SEASONS FOR GROWTH: St Marks Anglican Church, Carterton - Anglican Diocese of Wellington | $ 5,000 |
Arts Access Aotearoa Whakahauhau Katoa o Hanga Charitable Trust | $ 7,500 |
Big Buddy Mentoring Trust | $ 5,000 |
Road Safety Education Limited | $ 10,000 |
Stokes Valley Foodbank | $ 7,120 |
WellAble | $ 5,000 |
Agape Budgeting Service | $ 5,000 |
Anxiety NZ Trust | $ 7,500 |
Women's Network [Wanganui] Inc | $ 5,000 |
Community Education Whanganui | $ 5,000 |
Parentline Manawatu Incorporated | $ 8,000 |
Ahuru Mowai Trust | $ 5,000 |
Wellington Activity Centre ( Trading as Te Ara School) | $ 5,000 |
Christians Against Poverty NZ | $ 7,500 |
Levin Christian Care Trust | $ 5,000 |
ThroughBlue | $ 5,000 |
TEAM Naenae Trust | $ 5,000 |
Wairarapa Youth Charitable Trust | $ 5,000 |
Alzheimers Society Manawatu Inc | $ 5,000 |
Cannons Creek Youth Charitable Trust | $ 5,000 |
Renew Communities Trust | $ 5,000 |
Adding Value Trust | $ 5,000 |
Wairarapa Whanau Trust | $ 5,000 |
The Wellington Multiple Sclerosis Society Inc (Wellington MS) | $ 5,000 |
The Gift Trust - Matariki Koha Fund | $ 10,000 |
The Petone Youth and Families Trust | $ 12,400 |
Lifegate Network Trust Board t/a Hope Hub | $ 10,000 |
Life to the Max Trust | $ 10,000 |
Project Restore New Zealand Trust | $ 10,000 |
Woven Whānau - Whanganui Central Baptist Kindergarten and Creche Trust | $ 10,000 |
Snapback Gym 'Toe a'e se tofa' Trust | $ 10,000 |
Refugees as Survivors NZ | $ 10,000 |
The Stroke Foundation of New Zealand Ltd | $ 5,000 |
Cystic Fibrosis Association of New Zealand | $ 5,000 |
Horowhenua Kids, Teens and Family Trust, t/a Hinemoa House | $ 5,000 |
Alzheimers Whanganui | $ 5,000 |
Arohanui Strings-Sistema Hutt Valley | $ 20,000 |
Endo Warriors Aotearoa | $ 10,000 |
Youth Services Trust Whanganui - T/A Whatever | $ 10,000 |
Lower Hutt Community Foodbank Incorporated | $ 10,000 |
Dance & Arts Therapy NZ | $ 11,636 |
Age Concern Kapiti Coast Incorporated | $ 5,000 |
Mt Cook School | $ 40,000 |
Kilbirnie Lyall Bay Community Centre | $ 5,000 |
Wellington Regional Orchestra Foundation Incorporated | $ 10,000 |
Upper Hutt Housing Charitable Trust | $ 20,000 |
ACROSS Te Kotahitanga O te Wairua | $ 12,752 |
Te Ora Hou Wellington East Trust | $ 10,000 |
Wellington Women's Health Collective Inc. | $ 10,000 |
Hōhepa Wellington | $ 30,000 |
dsport Incorporated | $ 10,000 |
Debtfix | $ 10,000 |
Camellia House | $ 5,000 |
Challenge 2000 Trust | $ 5,000 |
Hope Centre Trust (Back to School Project) | $ 10,000 |
Arohanui Hospice Service Trust | $ 10,000 |
Te Omanga Hospice Trust | $ 15,000 |
Upper Hutt Community Youth Trust T/A Kickstart | $ 10,000 |
Macular Degeneration New Zealand | $ 10,000 |
Little Miracles Trust | $ 5,000 |
Suzanne Aubert Compassion Centre Wellington | $ 36,000 |
Complex Chronic Illness Support Incorporated | $ 5,000 |
The Free Store Charitable Trust | $ 10,000 |
EVolocity Charitable Trust | $ 5,000 |
Kiwi Community Assistance Charitable Trust | $ 15,000 |
The Planet Ryan Family Foundation | $ 18,240 |
Camp Quality New Zealand | $ 5,000 |
Personal Money Coaches BY Foxton Districts Budget Service | $ 10,000 |
Mana Wahine Incorporated | $ 5,000 |
Whanganui Kai Trust | $ 15,000 |
Orange Sky New Zealand Ltd | $ 10,000 |
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust | $ 10,000 |
Virtuoso Strings Charitable Trust | $ 10,000 |
The Nest Collective NZ Charitable Trust | $ 10,000 |
Ekta Nz Inc | $ 15,000 |
Te Ara Moana Trust | $ 10,000 |
The CanInspire Charitable Trust | $ 5,000 |
Autism New Zealand Incorporated - Manawatu, Whanganui, Wellington and Wairarapa branches | $ 5,000 |
Kenzie's Gift | $ 5,000 |
Barnardos Aotearoa | $ 5,000 |
Momentum Charitable Trust | $ 10,000 |
Autism Wairarapa | $ 5,000 |
Hōkai Tahi | $ 7,500 |
City Mission Palmerston North | $ 10,000 |
Dress for Success Wellington Incorporated | $ 5,000 |
New Zealand National Refugee Youth Council | $ 5,000 |
Palmerston North Methodist Social Services Trust | $ 10,000 |
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese Of Wellington - Catholic Social Services | $ 22,000 |
Dementia Wellington Charitable Trust | $ 5,000 |
Hapai Te Hapori | $ 5,000 |
Age Concern Wairarapa Incorporated | $ 5,000 |
Good Bitches Trust | $ 5,000 |
Wellington Museums Trust | $ 10,000 |
WELLfed NZ Trust | $ 5,000 |
UP Foundation | $ 10,000 |
Christian Social Services Whanganui - City Mission Whanganui | $ 10,000 |
Sustainability Trust | $ 10,000 |
Te Awhina Community Hub Incorporated | $ 20,000 |
Waimarino Budget Service INC | $ 10,000 |
Wesley Wellington Mission Incorporated | $ 10,000 |
People First New Zealand Incorporated | $ 20,000 |
Foundation for Equity and Research New Zealand | $ 10,000 |
Male Survivors Wellington ta The Road Forward | $ 10,000 |
Who Did You Help Today Trust | $ 20,000 |
Tararua Community Youth Services Charitable Trust | $ 25,000 |
The Lower Hutt women's Centre | $ 5,000 |
Niuvaka Trust | $ 25,000 |
InsideOUT Kōaro | $ 10,000 |
Newtown Community and Cultural Centre 2009 Trust | $ 5,000 |
Kāpiti Youth Employment Foundation | $ 10,000 |
The Wellington City Mission (Anglican) Trust Board | $ 40,000 |
Kaibosh | $ 40,000 |
SPELD New Zealand | $ 10,000 |
Te Roopu Hokowhitu Charitable Trust | $ 40,000 |
Fareham Creative Space | $ 5,000 |
Wainuiomata Marae Charitable Trust | $ 36,500 |
City Mission Palmerston North | $ 10,000 |
Te Whanganui-A-Tara Youth Development Trust | $ 100,000 |
Te Paku-o-Te-Rangi Marae operating as Putiki Wharanui Marae Committee | $ 20,000 |
Youth Inspire | $ 109,000 |
Wellington Sikh Sangat Trust New Zealand | $ 130,000 |
The Mary Potter Hospice Foundation | $ 100,000 |
Te Manawa Museums Trust | $ 100,000 |
Ngatokowaru Marae Committee | $ 100,000 |
Blue Light Manawatu Youth Connect project | $ 10,000 |
Otaki Collaborative - Participatory funding | $ 10,000 |
Otaki Kura Van | $ 15,000 |
Organisation Name | Amount |
CCS Disability Action Whanganui Incorporated | $ 5,500.00 |
CCS Disability Action Wairarapa Incorporated | $ 5,500.00 |
CCS Disability Action Wellington Branch Incorporated | $ 5,500.00 |
CCS Disability Action Manawatu Horowhenua Incorporated | $ 5,500.00 |
The House of Grace | $ 10,000.00 |
Hakeke Street Community Centre | $ 5,000.00 |
The Hearing Association Horowhenua Branch Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
Alzheimers Whanganui Inc. | $ 7,000.00 |
Volunteer Kapiti 2020Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Citizens Advice Bureau Lower Hutt | $ 5,000.00 |
TalkLink Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
Citizens Advice Bureau Whanganui Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
Wellington After-Care Association Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
Progress Castlecliff Coast Care | $ 6,427.00 |
Newlands Community House Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
1st Marton Scouts - The Scout Association of New Zealand | $ 3,000.00 |
Alzheimers Manawatu | $ 5,000.00 |
Aphasia New Zealand (AphasiaNZ) Charitable Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Access Radio Wairarapa Charitable Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Levin Riding for the Disabled Association Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
Parent to Parent Wellington | $ 5,000.00 |
Upper Hutt Womens Centre Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
Parent to Parent Manawatu | $ 5,000.00 |
LEVIN Citizens Advice Bureau Inc | $ 6,000.00 |
Barnardos New Zealand | $ 6,000.00 |
Offspring Playgroup - Anglican Parish of Levin | $ 4,000.00 |
Music Futures Incorporated | $ 3,000.00 |
Wellington Youth Orchestra (Incorporated) | $ 3,000.00 |
Citizens Advice Bureau Palmerston North | $ 5,000.00 |
NZ Essential Tremor Support Group Inc | $ 10,000.00 |
Big Brothers Big Sisters Wellington | $ 5,000.00 |
Te Ara Korowai Incorporated | $ 10,000.00 |
Nourish Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Citizens Advice Bureau Upper Hutt Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
Palmerston North Street Van Inc. | $ 8,000.00 |
Seasons for Growth -St Mark's Anglican Church Carterton, Anglican diocese of Wellington | $ 5,000.00 |
Alliance Francaise Palmerston North Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
The Scout Association of New Zealand | $ 5,000.00 |
Special Olympics Porirua | $ 8,765.00 |
Prisoners Aid & Rehabilitation Service Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Read NZ Te Pou Muramura Inc. | $ 5,000.00 |
Zeal Youth Trust Aotearoa - Wellington | $ 5,000.00 |
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Manawatu | $ 5,000.00 |
Wairarapa Search and Rescue Inc. | $ 5,000.00 |
City of Porirua Army Cadet Unit | $ 3,000.00 |
Youth Cultures and Comunity Trust | $ 6,250.00 |
Good Bitches Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Counselling Centre (Marton) Inc | $ 5,000.00 |
Age Concern Kapiti Coast Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
Levin Interchurch Foodbank | $ 10,000.00 |
Horowhenua supergrans trading as Skills4Living | $ 5,000.00 |
Kenzie's Gift Charitable Trust | $ 9,000.00 |
Youthline Wellington Incorporated | $ 7,000.00 |
Neighbourhood Support Manawatu / NSM | $ 5,000.00 |
Social Socks Charitable Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Community Education Whanganui | $ 5,000.00 |
Archdiocese of Wellington-Catholic Social Services | $ 5,000.00 |
Wellington Down Syndrome Social Club Charitable Trust | $ 6,250.00 |
Christian Fellowship For Disabled - Wellington | $ 5,000.00 |
Diabetes Wellington Incorporated | $ 4,000.00 |
Zeal Youth Trust Aotearoa - Kapiti | $ 5,000.00 |
Moera Community House | $ 5,000.00 |
Tawa Youth And Families Trust Board | $ 5,000.00 |
COPD Choir Trust | $ 1,000.00 |
Women of Worth Charitable Company Limited | $ 5,000.00 |
Manawatu Horowhenua and Tararua Diabetes Trust | $ 3,000.00 |
Freedom to Learn Charitable Trust (Irlen Fund) | $ 5,000.00 |
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People NZ | $ 8,000.00 |
Te Ha Ora Asthma and Respiratory Foundation Charitable Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Adding Value Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Marton Food Pantry | $ 5,000.00 |
Scout Association of New Zealand - Belmont Scout Group | $ 3,000.00 |
Thumbs Up Charitable Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
WellAble | $ 5,000.00 |
Wellington (CEC) Trust | $ 4,000.00 |
Strathmore Park Community Centre Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Levin Christian Care Trust - trading as Living Well Counselling Centre | $ 5,000.00 |
MFESC Cloud Kids Educare | $ 5,000.00 |
Wairarapa Citizens Advice Bureau | $ 5,000.00 |
Manawatu Rural Support Service Inc | $ 5,000.00 |
Kapiti Living Without Violence Charitable Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Sustainable Whanganui Trust | $ 3,000.00 |
Newlands Toy Library | $ 3,808.00 |
Autism Experiences Wellington Trust | $ 3,000.00 |
West End Scout Group Scouts Aotearoa | $ 2,000.00 |
KiwiClass Multicultural Support Services | $ 3,000.00 |
Ahuru Mowai Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Te Whare Ora o Eketahuna - Eketahuna Health Centre | $ 6,000.00 |
Women's Network [Wanganui] Inc | $ 5,000.00 |
The Loss and Grief Centre Kapiti | $ 5,000.00 |
ThroughBlue | $ 5,000.00 |
Arts Access Aotearoa Whakahauhau Katoa O Hanga Charitable Trust | $ 2,500.00 |
Upper Hutt Foodbank Incorporated | $ 7,500.00 |
Hapai Te Hapori | $ 5,000.00 |
EVolocity Charitable Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Divine River NZ Trust | $ 4,000.00 |
Manawatu Multiple Sclerosis Society Incorporated | $ 6,000.00 |
WellElder Counselling Trust | $ 2,500.00 |
United Nations Association Of New Zealand (United Nations Youth Association Of New Zealand Branch) Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
Wellington Regional Hospital Charity Hospital Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
Financial Freedom Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
Kapiti Youth Employment Foundation | $ 10,000.00 |
New Zealand Down Syndrome Assn Inc | $ 5,000.00 |
Life to the Max Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Christian Social Services Whanganui - City Mission Whanganui | $ 10,000.00 |
Graeme Dinlge Foundation Wellington | $ 10,000.00 |
SPELADD NZ Inc | $ 10,000.00 |
The Rare Disorders New Zealand Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
The National Foundation for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Manatopu Incorporated | $ 10,000.00 |
New Zealand Nutrition Foundation | $ 5,000.00 |
KidzStuff Theatre For Children Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
Autism New Zealand Incorporated - Manawatu, Whanganui, Wellington and Wairarapa branches | $ 5,000.00 |
Interdenominational Tertiary Chaplaincy Trust | $ 2,500.00 |
City Mission Palmerston North | $ 5,000.00 |
Lifegate Network Trust Board t/a Hope Hub | $ 5,000.00 |
Huntingtons Disease Association (Wellington) Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
Arohanui Strings - Sistema Hutt Valley | $ 20,000.00 |
Age Concern Horowhenua | $ 10,000.00 |
Kapiti Community Foodbank Incorporated | $ 10,000.00 |
UP Foundation | $ 10,000.00 |
The Lower Hutt Women's Centre | $ 5,000.00 |
ChangeMakers Resettlement Forum | $ 10,000.00 |
Male Survivors Wellington ta The Road Forward | $ 5,000.00 |
Manawatu Tenants' Union | $ 5,000.00 |
NZ Spinal Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
KÄpiti Impact Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
Balance Aotearoa | $ 30,000.00 |
Renew Communities Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
Birthright Hutt Valley Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
King Street Artworks | $ 5,000.00 |
SANZ Milson Scout Group | $ 5,000.00 |
Hakai Tahi | $ 8,000.00 |
Nature School NZ Trust | $ 8,000.00 |
Life Education Trust Kapiti Horowhenua | $ 7,000.00 |
Kaibosh | $ 25,000.00 |
The Little Miracles Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Wellington City Mission (Anglican Trust Board) | $ 25,000.00 |
Hutt Valley Benefit Education Service Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Horowhenua District Health Transportation Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Kiwi Community Assistance Charitable Trust (KCA) | $ 10,000.00 |
Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History | $ 5,000.00 |
Parentline Manawatu Inc | $ 10,000.00 |
WIDanceTrust | $ 5,000.00 |
Porirua Newcomers Hapori Kaiwhakatere Incorporated | $ 15,000.00 |
Junior Cricket Upper Hutt | $ 10,000.00 |
Ekta Nz Inc | $ 10,000.00 |
Agape Budgeting Service | $ 5,000.00 |
He Puawai Trust | $ 20,000.00 |
Endo Warriors Aotearoa | $ 5,000.00 |
Arohanui Hospice Service Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
Legacy Centre | $ 9,500.00 |
Project Restore New Zealand Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
People First New Zealand Inc. - Ngā Tāngata Tuatahi | $ 10,000.00 |
Pregnancy Help Incorporated - Greater Wellington | $ 10,000.00 |
Wellington Marine Conservation Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
RECAP (Society for the Resilience and Engagement of the Community of Ashhurst and Pohangina) | $ 3,000.00 |
Hope Centre Trust (Back to School Project) | $ 5,000.00 |
New Zealand Family and Fostercare Federation Inc. operating as Caring Families Aotearoa | $ 5,000.00 |
Vincents Art Workshop | $ 5,000.00 |
Suzanne Aubert Compassion Centre Wellington | $ 20,000.00 |
SuperGrans Manawatu Charitable Trust | $ 3,000.00 |
Big Buddy Mentoring Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Levin Uniting Parish | $ 5,000.00 |
Woven Whanau - CBK | $ 10,000.00 |
The Petone Youth and Families Trust | $ 7,500.00 |
Life Education Trust Wairarapa Tararua & Central Hawkes Bay | $ 5,000.00 |
Life Education Trust Whanganui and Districts | $ 5,000.00 |
Koraunui Stokes Valley Toy Library | $ 5,000.00 |
Opaea Marae Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
The Free Store Charitable Trust (operating as Just Zilch) | $ 10,000.00 |
The Girl Guides Association New Zealand Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
RespectEd Aotearoa | $ 4,000.00 |
Momentum Charitable Trust | $ 6,000.00 |
SPELD New Zealand Incorporated | $ 10,000.00 |
Whatever | $ 5,000.00 |
Hearing Association Wellington Incorporated | $ 9,000.00 |
Karori Community Centre | $ 5,000.00 |
Complex Chronic Illness Support Incorporated | $ 7,000.00 |
Te Omanga Hospice Trust | $ 15,000.00 |
KidsCan Charitable Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
Hospice Whanganui | $ 10,000.00 |
The Shady Mellow | $ 10,000.00 |
Little Shadow | $ 10,000.00 |
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington | $ 30,000.00 |
YMCA Central Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
Sustainability Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
Everybody Eats | $ 15,000.00 |
Manchester House Social Services Society Inc | $ 10,000.00 |
Riding for the Disabled Association Hutt Valley Group Incorporated | $ 5,000.00 |
Parents Centre Aotearoa | $ 5,000.00 |
Upper Hutt Community Youth Trust T/A Kickstart | $ 10,000.00 |
The Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Palmerston North | $ 10,000.00 |
Macular Degeneration New Zealand | $ 5,000.00 |
FreeforAll Charitable Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
Sense Rugby (New Zealand) Trust | $ 15,000.00 |
Road Safety Education Limited | $ 10,000.00 |
Featherston Community Centre Charitable Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Growing Places Charitable Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
Rimutaka Baptist Church | $ 7,000.00 |
Whanganui Kai Trust | $ 15,000.00 |
Virtuoso Strings Charitable Trust Board | $ 10,000.00 |
Capital Zone Basketball Trust | $ 5,000.00 |
Depression Recovery Trust | $ 12,000.00 |
InsideOUT Kaaro | $ 5,000.00 |
Paremata-Plimmerton Rugby Football Club Inc | $ 5,000.00 |
Foxton Districts Budget Service T/a Personal Money Coaches | $ 10,000.00 |
Te Whare Hapori o NgÄ Puna Waiora / Newtown Community Centre | $ 20,000.00 |
Community House (Whanganui) Association Incorporated | $ 10,000.00 |
Te Runanga o Toa Rangatira Incorporated | $ 10,000.00 |
The Nest Collective NZ Charitable Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
Birthright Wellington Incorporated | $ 10,000.00 |
Hutt Multicultural Council Inc | $ 5,000.00 |
Te Ara Moana Trust | $ 15,000.00 |
Work Manawatu trading as Dress for Success Palmerston North | $ 10,000.00 |
Lower Hutt Community Foodbank Inc (t/a Lower Hutt Foodbank) | $ 10,000.00 |
Contact Incorporated | $ 3,500.00 |
Creative Capital Arts Trust | $ 10,000.00 |
The Gift Trust - Te Ati Awa Collective | $ 10,000 |
Christian Social Services Whanganui - City Mission Whanganui | $ 100,000.00 |
Youth Inspire | $ 50,000.00 |
Capital Care Trust Board (trading as Capital Care Health Centre CCHC) | $ 92,000.00 |
Cancer Society Of New Zealand Wanganui - Rangitikei - Waimarino Centre | $ 100,000.00 |
Paekakariki Surf Lifeguards | $ 20,000.00 |
Nuku Ora | $ 50,000.00 |
The Mary Potter Hospice Foundation | $ 10,000.00 |
Woven Rivers Trust | $ 50,000.00 |
Nga Hapa Otaki trading as (Raukawa Marae Management Comittee) | $ 58,000.00 |
Te Runanga o Toa Rangatira | $ 10,000.00 |
Thomas George Macarthy was born in London in 1833, the son of Thomas Bernard Macarthy, a florist and his wife, Ann Elizabeth Grout. Nothing is known about his early life.
Macarthy was attracted to the Victorian goldfields in the early 1850s, later settling at Geelong. He crossed the Tasman to the Otago diggings in 1865, and from there followed the rush to the West Coast where, after some success on the various goldfields, most notably at Reefton, he established a small brewery at Charleston.
Seeking to expand his buisness Mr Macarthy moved to Wellington 1877 and bought a brewery in Old Custom House Street (Bond Street) and in 1883 a larger brewery in Tory Street. The Tory Street property is still owned by the Trust. From this start he expanded his business interests into many fields, becoming manager-owner of the barque Weatherfield, with which he traded between London and New Zealand ports. He also acquired hotels which were closely linked to his principal business, and other urban property. The financial liquidity of brewing made it a sound investment during the depression of the 1880s and early 1890s.
Macarthy became a respected member of the Wellington business community. He was prominent in the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, the Wellington industrial exhibition of 1896 to 1897, and the company formed in the 1890s to build an opera house. He was elected to the board of directors of the Bank of New Zealand in 1894 when the location of its head office was shifted from London to Wellington, and served until 1898. He was also a member of the Wellington Racing Club.
On 28 April 1897, when aged 63, Macarthy married 23-year-old Mary Ellen Fitzsimons at St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in Wellington. There were no children of the marriage. His best man was John Plimmer, the self-styled “Father of Wellington”. He remained active in management until his final illness, and died at his Boulcott Street home in Wellington on 19 August 1912. His will provided for his wife Mary along with provision for his wife’s husband or children should she remarry. Mary Macarthy married Walter Edward Reid, a merchant, on 21 January 1914, and the marriage was childless. She died on 1 July 1934.
Macarthy was known for his low-key generosity, despite the anonymity around any donations, the size of his estate took the city by surprise £500,000 (including the brewery) with a board of governors to include the Governor-General, Prime Minister, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington and the Capital’s Mayor. Macarthy was particularly interested in education (one of his first bequests was the 1919 development endowment of the T G Macarthy chair of economics at Victoria University) and providing for the needy which, in those days, often meant women.
A state-administered brewery posted a few problems. “The People’s Ale – the more you drink, the more there is for charity” was a bit much for former Prime Minister and Chief Justice, Robert Stout – a committed abolitionist determined to shut down the Public Trust with its links to demon drink. The Public Trust fought off the challenge and the brewery continued in business until bought out by New Zealand Breweries in 1937.
After her marriage, Mrs Macarthy devoted much of her time to charitable work. Thomas George Macarthy gave liberally to charities during his lifetime, but always insisted that the gifts be anonymous. A rare exception to this rule was a public donation in 1910 of £500 to the Children’s Hospital.
Thomas George Macarthy died at his Boulcott Street home in Wellington on 19 August 1912.