DONATION: $50,000 / Twizel Heritage Machinery Display

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The Hugo Trust has assisted the Twizel Heritage Group with a donation of $50,000 to renovate a D9G bulldozer for display at Twizel and add to a growing collection of machinery and equipment to create the largest outdoor display in New Zealand.

The donation enables Hugh Green and partner Barney McCahill’s involvement with New Zealand’s largest earthmoving project to be marked. The pair had started out earthmoving in 1960 on the Hamilton Arterial Route contract and purchased a D8 bulldozer and two scrapers.

In the mid 1960’s they looked at major projects in the South Island, taking over a contract on the Haast Pass Road, and with it, the equipment and staff of Roadways New Zealand-a company which had cut its teeth on the Benmore Dam project. Between 1960 and 1970 the staff grew to 300 men.

DONATION: $250,000 / New playground

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Our current adventure playground has served us well over the years, but it now requires frequent repairs and part replacements to keep it safe for our tamariki. That’s why we’re absolutely thrilled the Hugo Charitable Trust has generously pledged a $250,000 donation towards a brand-new Adventure Playground!

This generous donation has been gifted solely for the purpose of creating a new Adventure Playground, ensuring these funds are dedicated entirely to providing a safe, engaging, and imaginative play space for our tamariki.

This gift comes thanks to Maryanne Owens, a former Marist School and Marist College student. During her recent visit, Maryanne was amazed to see how much our school has grown and changed since her time here. She was joined by Hugo CEO, Aoibheann Monaghan and Chair, Mark Owens who met with Carolynn Phillips during their visit.

We will now begin the exciting process of planning our new playground and of course, our tamariki will play a key role in shaping their future play space! Carolynn will be meeting with the Student Council, who will help gather ideas and run a “Design Your Dream Adventure Playground” competition.

The donation funds will be received in 2026, and while the timeline for design, consultation, and installation is still being developed, we’re thrilled to have this project underway.

A heartfelt thank you to Maryanne and the Hugo Charitable Trust for helping us create a safe, inspiring, and joy-filled place for our children to play and grow.

History of Marist School

Father Gondringer, the parish priest of the newly formed Mt Albert parish (1924) made a request to the Marist Sisters to establish a primary school in his growing parish. The parishioners, though not very wealthy and small in number, raised money to build the school and worked on it voluntarily during weekends. The parishioners greeted Mother Bernard and Sister Austin on their arrival on the “Tofua” on the 24th January 1927. The Sisters of Mercy hosted them until their cottage was ready and also helped them to understand the New Zealand school curriculum.

School began on 7 February 1927 when 90 students arrived. Those from other parishes were asked to return to their former schools as there was only seating for 80 students. A lay teacher, Miss Jessie Nicholl taught Standard 1 and 2, Sr Austin the Primers, and Mother Bernard Standards 3 to 6.

The grounds were not fully completed, so the children could not go out to play as the men were blasting rocks to level it. The students helped the sisters by putting on the vegetables for their meal and helping with washing the dishes.

Sr Dominic arrived from Sydney in May 1927, helping with both schoolwork and the needs of the community. As a private school, Marist had to be registered. This was achieved in October 1927, the inspector rating was equal to the best school in the district – Gladstone School.

The sisters did not have a lot of money. Bishop Cleary had promised $100 per year, but the weekly school fees barely brought in $2. They gave a few music lessons and took in some sewing to support them and the school. The parishioners were generous in their donation of food to the sisters.

Early in 1944, with help from the Mt Albert Borough Council a swimming pool was constructed in the presbytery grounds adjoining the primary. (This is now the garden for the school’s Garden to Table programme).

From 1978, due to an increasing roll, Forms One and Two from the primary school were taken into the College as an attached Intermediate and new buildings were built. The school was integrated into the State system in 1975 under the Private Schools Conditional Integration Act. The Marist Sisters held the principalship until the resignation of Sr Teresa Moran. The first lay principal was Mrs Ann Saunokonoko.

Much has changed environmentally with the school grounds and buildings but the heart of what it means to be Marist and the mission of the Marist Sisters is still alive and well. In 2020 the school opened the two storey block and in 2024 refurbished the original school building, which is now the school hall.

Marist School is proud of its tūrangawaewae, its history and traditions. Marist School embraces the Marist Way and walks with Christ and Mary.

DONATION: $615,000 / Surface Guided Radiation Therapy Equipment

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At St George’s Cancer Care Centre we provide exceptional cancer care for patients from across New Zealand through excellence in both clinical practice and patient experience. We are committed to enhancing the quality of life for our patients, ensuring they receive the most advanced, compassionate care throughout their cancer journey. We pride ourselves on delivering personalised treatments tailored to each patient’s unique needs, doing so with integrity, respect and innovation, which form our core values.

As part of our vision, we aim to lead the way in cancer care by integrating cutting-edge technology and evidence-based practice into our service. The recent donation of surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT) equipment from the Hugo Charitable Trust, represents a significant advancement in our treatment capabilities. This state-of-the-art technology allows for precise patient positioning and real-time monitoring during the radiation therapy sessions, significantly reducing the incident of movement related interruptions.

The integration of this system into the service will also allow us to improve patient experience with more comfortable and less restrictive patient positioning techniques and also the ability to go to tattooless treatments, removing the need to permanently mark the patient’s skin. This innovative addition also supports our team to deliver highly accurate radiation doses to tumours while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

Our commitment to excellence ensures that this generous donation will directly impact the experience and outcomes of our patients now and into the future. We are profoundly grateful for the support and generosity of the Hugo Charitable Trust and are committed to ensuring this contribution will enable us to continue to deliver the highest standard of care to the people of New Zealand.

DONATION: $90,000 / 3 Music Scholarships

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Tironui Music Trust is humbled and grateful for the support of the Hugo Charitable Trust, helping to nurture and support three young musicians to reach their potential and achieve their ambitions through music.

The Tironui Music Trust is dedicated to empowering young New Zealanders through the transformative power of music. We provide fully funded instrumental music programmes to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity, fostering diligence, confidence, and a lifelong love of music. Started by our founders Peter and Pam Hubscher, the Tironui programme has run for 18 years and supports students in Papatoetoe & Mt Wellington, South Auckland.

The generous donation of the Hugo Charitable Trust will support three talented and dedicated young musicians with the opportunity to develop their skills and reach their musical potential. The scholarships will provide individual tuition with a Tironui Music Trust tutor, access to higher level instruments, funding of external music exams, performance opportunities, mentoring opportunities with players from Auckland Philharmonia, and other chances to nurture our talented young musicians as they take their next steps on their musical journey.

DONATION: $80,000 / Kaipo Valley whio conservation project (stage 3)

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The Hollyford Conservation Trust is restoring 13,000ha of the Hollyford and Kaipo catchments within Fiordland National Park. In 2023, the Hollyford Conservation Trust partnered with the Recreational Backcountry Pilots Association to protect endangered whio (blue duck) in the Upper Kaipo valley, north of Milford Sound. This is a spectacular glacial valley that begins at the iconic Kaipo Wall and has clear, fast-flowing water that provides ideal habitat for whio. Excitingly, whio ducklings are now being seen in areas where they have been absent for many years including in the lower valley. Thanks to the support of the Hugo Charitable Trust, a trap network has been established along the Kaipo River to protect vulnerable nesting whio (blue duck) and their ducklings. A survey in May 2025 confirmed the presence of whio in the uppermost reaches of the Kaipo valley. The Hugo Charitable Trust has granted $80,000 funding that will enable the extension of the trapline into this excellent whio habitat. This is the final stage that will complete predator control from the Kaipo Wall in the headwaters all the way down to the coast at Kaipo Bay. Other species such as endangered kea, kākā, and rock wren are also expected to benefit. We are extremely grateful for the support and generous donations from the Hugo Charitable Trust now totaling $150,000 that will enable us to complete the establishment of this whio protection infrastructure.

DONATION: $30,000 / 50% cost of a new laundry pod located in Tauranga

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Orange Sky Aotearoa, the not-for-profit organisation providing free mobile laundry and shower services to individuals experiencing homelessness and hardship, has partnered with Tauranga-based charity Under the Stars to launch a new permanent laundry pod at its premises in the Cliff Road Community Hall.

Under the Stars provides healthy, home-cooked meals to more than 100 guests in need each week, with sit-down services on Thursdays at 12pm and Saturdays at 5pm. The new laundry pod will be operational during these times, providing guests with the opportunity to wash and dry their clothes while accessing the meals, hot showers and other essential resources, including clean towels, toiletries, free clothing, and haircuts.

This is Orange Sky’s third permanent laundry pod and its sixth service nationwide. Supported by generous contributions from Hugo Charitable Trust and Awhero Nui Charitable Trust, it builds on the impact of Orange Sky’s distinctive orange vans, which deliver mobile laundry and shower services across the motu.

The Tauranga installation responds to the growing demand for accessible hygiene services in the region, where, according to Tauranga City Council, 2.8% of residents – approximately 4,000 people – are recorded as experiencing homelessness in some form.

Ani Stace, Strategic Partnership and Funding Manager at Under the Stars, played a pivotal role in bringing Orange Sky to Tauranga. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Ani lived in a remote community, where many residents relied on tank water. Due to delivery restrictions, families faced difficulty meeting basic needs, including showering and doing laundry. Orange Sky’s mobile service became a lifeline for those without access to these essentials.

“I used the service myself,” Ani recalls. “It was such a relief when everyone was stretched thin and the experience really stuck with me. We’ve talked about the possibility of a permanent laundry facility at Under The Stars for years, so having Orange Sky offer this on-site now is truly magical!”

Kat Doughty, Senior Impact Manager at Orange Sky Aotearoa, added: “At Orange Sky, we believe in the power of connection, and this new permanent laundry pod in Tauranga allows us to offer not just clean clothes, but a moment of warmth, and kōrero. Partnering with Under the Stars means we can meet people where they are – in a space they already trust and feel safe in. Their work aligns closely with our kaupapa, and we’re proud to stand alongside such a dedicated local team to support the wellbeing of this community.”

Orange Sky’s commitment to supporting communities extends beyond Tauranga, with free mobile laundry and shower services also operating in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Hawke’s Bay. With the help of more than 350 volunteers, Orange Sky has completed over 31,531 loads of laundry, provided 14,891 hot showers, and spent more than 46,518 hours engaged in meaningful, non-judgmental kōrero with communities across New Zealand.