Momentum Waikato Update - February 2020

Nau Mai, Haere Mai.

Here we go, onward into a new decade!

Long-term collaboration to meet complex challenges ahead

Kelvyn Eglinton, Momentum Waikato Chief Executive

Momentum Waikato is your region’s Community Foundation, which means we are in the business of making positive transformational change, to create ‘A Better Waikato for everyone, forever’.

Central to our mission is building and making grants from the Waikato’s own regional endowment fund, which we’re aiming to grow to $300 million over the next 30 years. We’re doing this via considered and ethical investment of capital that comes to us through two main paths.

Firstly, generous people who believe in the Waikato make donations and/or commit to leaving a bequest to the endowment, multiplying the impact their resources can make on local social and environmental issues.

Invite: Waikato Vital Signs 2020 community engagement workshops

You are invited to add your voice to important conversations on our region’s priorities for current and future generations.

The Waikato Vital Signs community engagement workshops are being held by Momentum Waikato during March and April, aimed at gathering and recognising the value and importance of local knowledge.

Waahine Toa: Wisdom Shared – A Waikato Women’s Fund event

The Waikato Women’s Fund presents another inspiring event celebrating and supporting women in the Waikato. Join us to celebrate, learn from and enjoy the stories of successful Waahine.

Waahine Toa: Wisdom Shared will feature:

five amazing women presenting on what inspired them and the lessons learnt along the way
a ‘High-tea' and refreshments
an auction with spectacular items.

$80 plus GST ($92) a ticket and seats are in tables of eight – buy a table for $640 plus GST ($736) with friends or colleagues, or purchase single tickets and meet new friends. Tables are limited!

Click here to secure your tickets.

When: 1pm-5pm, Saturday 14 March 2020.

Where: The Atrium, Wintec.

The Waikato Regional Theatre already exists… in virtual reality!

Charcoalblue, designers of the new Waikato Regional Theatre, have created a Virtual Reality (VR) version of its auditorium that you can immerse yourself in it at the Smart Space at the Hamilton Central Library from 26 February to 22 May.

This is your chance to get a real sense of what the world-class space is going to be like, and to simply try out ‘VR’ if you haven’t already.

This is an updated version of the experience offered at our 2018 Showcase (pictured below), so worth a go even if you tried it then.

The installation will also feature the three seats types being considered for the auditorium, so you’ll also be able to try them out and vote for your favourite.

When: 26 February- 22 May.

Where: Smart Space, front of the Hamilton Central Library, Garden Place.

Activating the Waikato Cultural Inclusion Fund

Following a successful scoping workshop in late November (pictured above), we are now ready for the next step in the set-up of the Waikato Cultural Inclusion Fund.

A ‘group establishment meeting’ is being held in the Executive Lounge at the Claudelands Event Centre, off Heaphy Terrace, ‘after work’ on Monday 2 March, doors to open 5pm for a 5.30pm start, ending at 7.30pm.

This will be a two-hour session with the following simple agenda, processes herein decided as we go.

1 – Update on the WCIF to date.

2 – Select a WCIF establishment working group to carry the project forward.

3 – Agree in broad terms on this new working group’s responsibilities and immediate priorities.

To find out more or to RSVP please contact mark@momentumwaikato.nz.

When: 5.30pm Monday 2 March.

Where: Executive Lounge, Claudelands Event Centre.

Stunning new mural on THAT wall

We're super proud that the first grant from our Hamilton CBD Development Fund supported the new mural on Te Koopuu Mania o Kirikiriroa wall (AKA the Wintec Wall).

Congratulations to Ryan Hamilton and the Beyond Tomorrow Trust for initiating the project and Te Whētū Collective for their amazing art work.