News

We are thrilled to announce ASN Media has joined Better City Business. ASN Media creates industry-specific, documentary-style "Industry Stories". Created in partnership with leading associations and peak bodies, Industry Stories take a deep-dive into the key issues within a specific industry or sector.

We are thrilled to announce Cassels Brewing Co has joined Better City Business. Cassels is a family-owned and operated craft beer brewing company in Christchurch.

In a complex economic environment, the Foundation in the 2023 Financial year has raised $803,094 for projects and funds for the betterment of greater Christchurch. Some of this is invested in endowments, where the income earned on investments is distributed to the nominated causes in perpetuity. Effectively, the value of every donation is distributed again and again every 20-25 years; truly gifts that keep on giving.

Maggie Peacock is the co-founder of Fruitful Packaging. Formerly recognized as 'Bayuble,' the company has recently undergone a rebranding and an expansion of its mission. Fruitful Packaging aims to go beyond the replacement of plastic fruit stickers; instead, they aspire to revolutionize the soft plastic film market. The Fruitful film they offer is entirely free of plastic, presenting a genuinely sustainable packaging alternative that prioritizes food safety and freshness. Crafted from renewable fruit waste, the film is fully home-compostable, circular, edible, and vegan. It decomposes in the earth, mirroring the natural disposal process of food, without leaving any trace of forever chemicals or microplastics.

Dr. Grace, is a data scientist and entrepreneur CEO of LEAPS. Her journey into entrepreneurship began with a groundbreaking research project funded by Science for Technological Innovation (SfTI) National Science Challenge, Te Titoki Mataora (TTM) and KiwiNet. The original project aimed to revolutionize diabetes care across Aotearoa and beyond by developing affordable integrated technology that was designed with community.

Emily Heazlewood is a dynamic start-up enthusiast, motivated by a sincere desire to forge meaningful connections in the real world through technology. After completing high school, she founded the app Romer, connecting over 120,000 individuals in Australia and New Zealand to uniquely curated experiences embraced by locals. Presently working in investment, Emily lends her expertise to assist companies in raising funds for growth. Her recent venture, Amor, is a matchmaking app rooted in a precisely developed 60-questionnaire, aiming to facilitate more meaningful relationship connections based on the fundamental attributes of lasting happiness.

Our Suffrage celebrations continue to grow year on year. Over 220 guests attend this annual high tea, our way of celebrating female leadership in Christchurch, Selwyn, and Waimakariri. 2023 marks the 130th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in New Zealand.

This year the keynote address was given by New Zealand's first female Prime Minister, Rt. Hon Dame Jenny Shipley. She shared an inspiring list of firsts that have been achieved by women from greater Ōtautahi Christchurch.

The Christchurch Foundation is proud to announce its partnership with the donor, Joy Shivas, in establishing the Women's Entrepreneurship Fund. This initiative aims to provide scholarships and grants to female entrepreneurs, empowering them to shape our future through their innovative ventures. Joy Shivas recognizes the pivotal role of entrepreneurs in driving progress in our city and is dedicated to supporting more women to engage in this vital work.

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Shirley Boys School, as they transfer $100,000 from the CV Gallagher Trust into a Donor Advised Fund with The Christchurch Foundation. This strategic move aims to reduce operational costs and expand the availability of scholarships, allowing us to help them make even bigger impact on the lives of deserving students.

The Christchurch Foundation was set up to ensure that philanthropy in Canterbury could operate in a cohesive and effective way that has impact. With this in mind, we are looking for Patrons who want to be part of that legacy.

Our thoughts and immense aroha are with all NZ communities affected by cyclone Gabrielle, and other adverse weather events, over the past month. We are channeling all strength to you as you negotiate the challenging days, weeks and months ahead.

Nimble funding is exactly what our communities need right now. We know that it’s hard for individuals to know how to give donations well in an emergency situation, to know that your thoughtful gesture of care is going to the right place and will really make a difference. Effective funding into communities is what Community Foundations do. They have deep roots into communities, they have the knowledge and expertise to respond. See some of the best ways you can help with community response and resilience for the future here.
https://communityfoundations.org.nz/latest-news/cyclone-gabrielle-response-and-recovery

In New Zealand, only about 1 in 5 start-ups are led by women. The majority of venture capital goes to men.

The Christchurch Foundation is lucky enough to work with an incredible donor, Joy Shivas who will be giving several scholarships of $10,000 to female entrepreneurs. Joy knows that our future will be forged by today’s entrepreneurs, and she is passionate about supporting more women to get involved in this important mahi.

Read more to apply for one of our scholarships.