Introducing Kura Tāwhiti: A Fresh Start for Generational Giving in Canterbury

The Christchurch Foundation has transformed into Kura Tāwhiti – Canterbury Community Foundation, marking an exciting new chapter in how we serve Christchurch City and the Selwyn and Waimakariri districts.

It was important for our name to represent the whole region, and our approach to building an endowment for this community and place we call home. This pausing and reassessing who we are and what we stand for reflects the shift in our purpose: to build a long-term funding stream that will support future generations, centred on our three pillars of People, Place and Planet. 

Our new body is uncompromisingly focused on sustainable philanthropic growth, to ensure we are here for good, forever.

Over the past year, we’re proud to say we've rebuilt our organisation from the ground up. By reducing operating costs by 21% and increasing community distributions by 22%, more of every donated dollar is now going exactly where it should: back into Canterbury communities.

Our kete pūtea has grown to $3.3 million in managed and reserved funds,

and we have almost $5 million promised to Kura Tāwhiti – Canterbury Community Foundation through gifts and wills. This reflects our renewed trust and a clear focus on long-term impact.

Our new name, Kura Tāwhiti, was gifted by Ngāi Tahu leader Te Maire Tau. It references Castle Hill – a site of immense cultural significance – and symbolises something precious to be valued and passed on. We think this beautifully reflects our purpose: growing generosity for good, forever.

Kura Tāwhiti literally means “the treasure from a distant land” in te reo Māori, referring to the kūmara that was once cultivated in this region. Ngāi Tahu used this area as a mahinga kai and sacred resting place. 

To bring this story to life, we partnered with local creative agency Antony & Mates, who generously brought their creative energy and wisdom to our evolution for more than a year. Their design process drew deep inspiration from Kura Tāwhiti itself:

• the limestone tors and the shapes they carve into the horizon

• the distinctive palette of the Canterbury plains

• the story of Tāne Tiki, who claimed the mountain for his daughter and created a kākāpō-feather korowai for her

• and the cherished flora and fauna of the region, including the Castle Hill buttercup.

From this whakapapa grew our logomark, made up of three distinct shapes with each representing one of our key pillars: 

A kākāpō feather for People 

A round limestone boulder for Place 

A Castle Hill buttercup petal for Planet 

The colour palette balances kura’s alternate meaning—red, a colour etched into the hearts of Cantabrians worldwide—with the natural greens, beiges and yellows of the Castle Hill landscape. Together, these elements symbolise who we are and what we stand for. 

Under the leadership of CEO Lynne Umbers, we’ve moved away from costly events and short-term pass-through funding. Our focus is now on sustainable endowment funds that endure. That shift is already bearing fruit, with new endowment funds are under way for:

Lymphoedema treatment and research

Environmental initiatives

Muslim community scholarships

And more...

Our Green Philanthropy Fund is growing through the “Plant a Tree for Canterbury” campaign, and the Women Entrepreneurs Fund has now supported 42 female founders, distributing more than $250,000 to date.

With research showing $1.6 trillion expected to pass between generations by 2050, community foundations are uniquely positioned to play a vital role in shaping Aotearoa’s future. Kura Tāwhiti is primed to help Cantabrians create lasting legacies that will support communities for decades to come. 

Our sincere gratitude goes to our Board for their unwavering support and guidance, and to Antony & Mates whose creativity and insights have helped shape this transformation so thoughtfully. To all our donors, partners, and supporters: ngā mihi nui for being part of this journey. 

Together, we’re building a stronger, more generous Canterbury.