Spring Update 2026
Our video debut, a new way to protect Riccarton Bush, and a look back at Wills Month.
Tēnā koutou katoa, welcome to our Spring newsletter!
The common thread in this edition is where community love lives. For some, it’s in the instructions we leave to protect our whānau, carry forward our values and give back to the region that raised us. For others, it's the conversation that leads to decades of community support, the donation to a place that shaped our history, or the gift that secures its future. It flourishes in a group of women turning their collective generosity into action. And we think you can also find it in some spot-on creative storytelling...
Read on for a first peek at our brand-new Kura Tāwhiti video, the wrap on Wills Month, a new way to support Riccarton House and Bush Pūtaringamotu, and some exciting updates from Impact100 Canterbury.
Giving that keeps giving
A picture may say a thousand words, but a moving picture tells a story. And thanks to the talented team at ASN Media, we now have a stunning new animation to help us tell ours! We often get asked about who we are and what we do, so we wanted to create something that captures our kaupapa in a nutshell. Because while we all know giving makes a difference, we're here to make it keep giving. Watch, share, and enjoy a little spot of Kura Tāwhiti.
Wills Month Wrapped
September may have ended, but the spirit of Wills Month lives on. And while there’s technically a deadline for getting your affairs in order, it’s not one we need to dwell on too much! The most important thing is to start thinking about what you'll be leaving behind, who you want to protect, and the future you want to help build.
Leaving a gift in your will to Kura Tāwhiti Foundation is one way to help create the future you want your children and grandchildren to inherit. No matter its size, your gift can be invested and grown to create a lasting source of support for the people, places and causes you care about. Get in touch with us whenever you're ready to have a chat.
You may have spotted the Kura Tāwhiti banners out in the wild at one of our community pop-ups last month. Big thanks to our local business hosts and everyone who stopped by for a chat and picked up a Will Information Pack. It’s a great wee resource for planning your affairs and thinking about leaving a charitable gift (if we do say so ourselves!). Check it out here.
Research tells us that more than half of New Zealanders are open to the idea of leaving a gift to charity in their will, but only 20% of those who had received professional advice said charitable giving had ever been raised. Professional advisors play a vital role in helping people understand their giving options and turn their intentions into lasting community support.
This means there’s a real, ongoing opportunity for advisors to bridge the gap between the conversations Kiwis want to have and the ones they’re actually having. If you’re a professional advisor, even one conversation about charitable giving this month could help turn your client’s values into lasting impact.
For more guidance on starting and having meaningful philanthropic conversations, reach out to us or see our helpful guide. Source: Giving in Aotearoa NZ, BERL, 2026
Protect the legacy of Riccarton House and Bush
We’re working with the Riccarton Bush Trust to make it easier for our community to help care for Riccarton House and Bush Pūtaringamotu now and for future generations. Your donation today can support essential improvements to the House and Bush like the new roof and boardwalk. Or, if you’d like your generosity to keep giving, you can make a larger gift to a new dedicated endowment fund, where your gift will be invested and grown to provide ongoing support for years to come. You can also choose to leave a gift to this endowment in your will. Donate online today.
Gifted to the people of Canterbury by the Deans family in 1914, Riccarton House and Bush Pūtaringamotu is a place like no other. Where else in Christchurch can you find 600-year-old trees, native birds, insects and geckos, and an original Victorian-Edwardian homestead? (Where else in the world, for that matter?) Read our blog to learn more about the history and significance of this remarkable taonga.
Impact100 Canterbury Calendar
Impact100 Canterbury has been on fire this quarter, with two member and prospective member events already under our belt and plenty more in the pipeline. Our Posh Puds & Pinot evening was a feast for the senses, with delicious catering from local-favourite Posh Puds and the chance to explore Endgrained, the latest exhibition at Objectspace.
A few lucky members also joined forces with Global Women for a behind-the-scenes tour of Kōawa Studios, one of Ōtautahi’s flashest creative technology spaces. It was amazing to get an inside look at this state-of-the-art facility, meet members of the Global Women community and connect with fellow Impact100 wāhine. Not your average work day!
Finally, we’re thrilled to announce that our annual Impact100 Canterbury Breakfast Panel is locked in for Wednesday 28 October, and registrations are now open! Join us for breakfast bites and insights from three inspiring non-profit professionals who’ll share what they’re seeing, learning and doing to support women and children across Canterbury. If you're interested in joining Impact100, you can learn about our model and impact and sign up here.
That’s all from us for now. As always, if something you’ve read here has sparked a thought, an idea, or inspiration to give back, we’d love to hear from you.
