DONATION: $100,000
10 x Hugo education scholarships

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Tēnā koutou katoa, he mihi o te wā kia tātou. The InZone Education Foundation is immensely grateful for the ongoing support of the Hugo Charitable Trust, whose significant funding enables 10 students to access life-changing educational opportunities. This generous contribution is crucial in achieving InZone’s mission to empower young Māori and Pasifika students by providing access to high-quality education and a supportive boarding environment.

Gary Doherty-Mansson – Kia ora, Ko Gary Doherty-Mansson toku ingoa, nō Ngāpuhi ahau. I am a 4th former and the first of my family to attend InZone. In the future I want to give professional league a good shot then become a police officer or an accountant. Thank you Hugo.

Max Kemp – Tēnā koutou katoa, Ko Max Kemp ahau, I am from Maungturoto Northland. I am a 6th former at InZone. My brother came to InZone too. In the future I would like to get an apprenticeship in building and hopefully become a qualified carpenter.

Jack Palu – Mālō e lelei, Ko hoku hingoa Ko Jack Palu. I am from Māngere East in South Auckland. I am a 7th former at InZone. My brother is at InZone as well. I want to work as an Accountant in the future.

Kaea Wharemate – Kia ora, my name’s Kaea Wharemate. I’m from Hastings/Hawke’s Bay. I’m in form 6 and this is my second year at InZone, and ever since I’ve been here I have really liked it. When I leave school, I want to go overseas and make it far as I can in basketball. I might serve my mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Raven Cottier – Kia ora, Ko Rawiri Coltier tōku ingoa. I am from Tītīrangi in West Auckland and I am in form 4. I don’t have any siblings who went before me but my brother is coming next year. I will have a journey on a yacht somewhere in Australia or Europe, after finishing school, to work.

Karanema Niupulau – Kia ora, Ko Karanama Niupulau tōku ingoa. Ko au mai te taha tōnga o Manurewa, i te taha o Clendon. Au he tau iwa (3-form) kahore kei au ngā tuākana me tuāhine I roto I te InZone. Ko au te tuatahi i InZone. Ka pīrangi au ki te haere i te navy, kia mahi i runga i ngā waka.

Tiare Armstrong – Ko Tiare Armstrong ahau. I am from Whangārei. I am in 4th form at Auckland Grammar School, the first of two people in my family to attend InZone. My future job is a lawyer.

Eirene Apineuru – Talofa lava, my name is Eirene Apineuru, born in Samoa, raised in NZ, Manurewa. This year, I have the opportunity to be part of the amazing InZone hostel, a programme that not only helps open many doors to future success but also helps me better my leadership and communication skills. I have a love of engineering.

Urbane Tahitahi-Matiu – Ko Urbane Tahitahi-Matu toku ingoa. I am a 15 year old Maori attending InZone and attaining a good education. In the future, I aspire to join the Navy. Thank you Hugo.

DONATION: $75,000
Bob’s Cove Sanctuary project

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Bob’s Cove is home to many native species such as the yellow-crowned parakeet and South Island tomtit. It has the closest intact native beech forest to Queenstown, but this special area and its fauna is seriously threatened by introduced mammals such as possums, rats and stoats.

Southern Lakes Sanctuary is a landscape scale conservation project uniting the work of six major partner groups including the Whakatipu Wildlife Trust. We support approximately 100 community groups and their 1,000 volunteers, with a goal to protect our native species across the Queenstown Lakes District.

DONATION: $50,000
Mobility Dog Training (Hugo the dog)

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Mobility Dogs is incredibly grateful to the Hugo Charitable Trust for their generous $50,000 grant to raise and train a future Mobility Dog puppy—aptly named, Hugo.

It takes over $50,000 to raise and train a Mobility Dog, and the Trust’s incredible support will ensure that Hugo has the best possible start in life. Over the next two years, he will learn the specialist skills needed to assist a New Zealander living with a disability, providing not just practical help but also companionship, confidence, and a greater sense of independence.

Hugo will be raised in the Queenstown Southern Lakes area, allowing the Hugo Charitable Trust team to follow his journey as he grows from a playful puppy into a highly skilled canine companion. He will learn essential tasks such as retrieving dropped items, opening doors, and even helping with everyday tasks like undressing.

Beyond these skills, Hugo will grow into a confident and capable Mobility Dog, ready to navigate the world alongside his future partner and provide life-changing support every day.

DONATION: $63,000
New school van

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We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Hugo Charitable Trust for their generous donation, which has enabled us to purchase a van for our school. This van will greatly enhance our students’ ability to participate in school trips, camps, sporting events, swimming lessons, and more, providing them with valuable learning experiences beyond the classroom.

It will also enable us to help children make the transition from early learning to school by providing additional access to school visits for families that would otherwise be unable to come. We will even be able to support families with transport difficulties by providing a school pick up and drop off service.

Thanks again to Hugo Charitable Trust, your support will make a tangible and lasting difference in the lives of our children, and we are deeply grateful for your contribution to our community. We cannot wait for our new van to be delivered!

Kā mihi nui,
Debbie Waldron, Principal

DONATION: $19,000
Shipping of disability equipment to Samoa

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In March we shipped power wheelchairs for two adults with spinal cord injuries in Samoa plus another for spare parts. One of these wheelchairs went to Joe who had a power chair that was broken, not worth repairing and worn, so needed replacing. Joe relies on his power chair to get around his home and community as he has tetraplegia, so no movement in his legs and very limited arm function. For months he has remained at home as a result of not having a functioning power chair, so he now has independent mobility again.

We also shipped 12 children’s manual wheelchairs, including buggies with specialised seating, one walker and two children’s power wheelchairs. The children’s wheelchairs have been sent over in preparation for a wheelchair clinic in a few months time and will then be set up by a wheelchair therapist and technicians.

DONATION: $735,000
Hugo Tunnel

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More than a century has passed since plans were conceived to construct a tunnel to divert the Shotover River for gold mining. Now, sixty years after the completed tunnel was abandoned as unfit for purpose, the historic tunnel at Big Beach, will finally be used, thanks to a generous donation of $735,000 from the Hugo Charitable Trust.

After lying in ruin and disrepair, the tunnel is being repurposed as part of the new Shotover Gorge Cycle Trail. The donation from Hugo covers the restoration work for the tunnel, and in recognition of this generous contribution, the restored tunnel will be named the Hugo Tunnel.

The Hugo Tunnel is located downstream of Big Beach in the Arthurs Point area of Queenstown, and forms a part of the new Shotover Gorge Trail that links Arthurs Point to Frankton via Tucker Beach. Part of the recent Queenstown Trails expansion project linking Arrowtown, Arthurs Point and Frankton, the Shotover Gorge Trail and Hugo Tunnel form a vital ‘missing link’ to the Queenstown Trail network. The new trails connect communities within the Wakatipu Basin, providing recreational as well as active transport opportunities for both locals and the rapidly expanding cycle tourism market.

Queenstown Trails is the charitable organisation responsible for the development of the Queenstown Trail network. Founded in 2002, this small organisation of passionate individuals has facilitated the development of more than 200km of trails, catering to more than 300k trail users every year. With a mix of gravel, flow, single track and back country trails, there is something for everyone. Queenstown Trails proudly provides links between the popular QMTBC network, commuter/active travel, and the Nga Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trail Great Ride.