Trust Horizon introduces Private Bill to parliament in move to unlock millions more in funding
Trust Horizon CE, Derek Caudwell signing Private Bill lodgement documents.
In a major step towards unlocking millions in future grants that support Eastern Bay of Plenty communities, Trust Horizon’s ‘Trust Variation Bill’ was introduced to parliament on 26 February 2026, by Dana Kirkpatrick, MP for the East Coast.
The bill seeks to update Trust Horizon’s Trust Deed from the limiting remit of providing grants only for ‘energy-related purposes’ to the broader remit of for ‘charitable purposes’.
Trust Horizon chief executive Derek Caudwell says the Bill's introduction is a key step towards it being publicly debated and hopefully adopted by parliament. The change would allow the Trust to catch-up with other charitable Trusts in our sector which already have the flexibility to benefit their communities based on the combination of need, strategic direction and available funds.
“With energy being such a critical part of our lives energy-related causes and funding will remain a significant part of the Trust’s granting portfolio, for example in 2025 $1.5 million was granted towards sustainable energy transition, but it is not the only requirement for communities to prosper. This change will allow the Trust to support other areas communities have told us they need support with to create positive outcomes, such as housing, health, the environment and education,” says Caudwell.
The bill’s introduction to parliament follows letters of support from community/iwi groups and a period of public feedback, including a consumer poll in late 2025, in which 80.7% of respondents expressed their support for the proposed change.
Last year, Trust Horizon reached the milestone of over $50 million granted to local Eastern Bay initiatives since inception. This proposed change will unlock the Trust’s ability to fund a range of strategically-aligned grants that positively impact our communities – a move with the potential to see that figure significantly rise in the coming years.
“Trust Horizon exists to create lasting positive impact in the Eastern Bay, and this change will allow us to do that on an even greater scale,” says Trust Horizon Chair, David Glover. “We thank MP Dana Kirkpatrick for her sponsorship of this bill, along with the wider community for engaging with us, and showing such strong support for the change.”
To find out more visit www.trusthorizon.org.nz/private-bill – or read the bill in full at www.trusthorizon.org.nz/Trust-Horizon-Bill.pdf.