Private Bill notified after local support for Trust Horizon change to unlock millions more in funding

After a community poll indicated strong positive feedback, Trust Horizon is taking the next key steps to change its Trust Deed – and potentially unlock millions more in funding for Eastern Bay of Plenty communities.

Trust Horizon is seeking to update its Trust Deed from only being able to provide grants for ‘energy-related purposes’, to the broader remit of ‘charitable purposes’. This would allow the Trust to fund operational and project-based grant-making, and will likely see significantly more invested into the community each year.

The community was invited to provide feedback on the change via a consumer poll, which ran from 27th August to 1st October. The poll asked eligible voters:

Do you support Trust Horizon proceeding with a Private Bill to Parliament, for the purpose of varying their trust deed dated 1 August 1994 (Trust Deed) to:

a) Widen and clarify the charitable purposes in the Trust Deed; and

b) Change the variation power in the Trust Deed, allowing the Trustees to make future variations with the approval of the High Court.

Of the 3,625 respondents, 2,799 (or 80.7%) voted ‘yes’ to the above question. The poll also invited written submissions, with many showing their support for the opportunities that a broader charitable scope could bring – particularly for youth, education, wellbeing, iwi, and rural communities.

Letters of support were also provided from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, BayTrust, Horizon Energy Distribution Ltd., Kawerau District Council, Ōpōtiki District Council, Philanthropy NZ, Poroporo Rugby & Sports Club, Rotorua Trust, Sports Bay of Plenty, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Manawa, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whare and TECT.

“The trustees wish to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the poll and share their thoughts with us,” says Trust Horizon Chair, David Glover. “Having carefully reviewed all the feedback submitted, both for and against, we remain confident that this change will allow Trust Horizon to create even more positive lasting change throughout the Eastern Bay.”

The Trustees intend to promote the bill through Parliament, and as part of this process a public notice will appear in a range of publications across the country over the next two weeks.

MP for the East Coast, Dana Kirkpatrick, has agreed to promote the bill through the House. This includes the Select Committee Process, and three readings before the private bill can be passed into law.

“This is a sensible move for the Trust and will unlock funding for community groups which I am very happy to shepherd through Parliament on behalf of the Eastern BOP community,” Kirkpatrick says. “I want to thank the trustees for their vision for this and sensible stewardship of changes and therefore opportunities.”

“On behalf of all the trustees, thank you again to all the poll respondents, organisations who have indicated their support and to our local MP,” says Glover. “We look forward to this next exciting chapter for the Trust, and for the Eastern Bay.”

A copy of the Bill is available for inspection during business hours at the offices of Trust Horizon’s solicitors, Sharp Tudhope (Level 4, 152 Devonport Road, Tauranga) between 12 December 2025 to 30 January 2026.

A copy of the Bill is also available on Trust Horizon’s website at www.trusthorizon.org.nz/Trust-Horizon-Bill.pdf.

For the full list of letters of support and summary of community poll feedback, visit trusthorizon.org.nz.