Trust Horizon invites community feedback on change to unlock millions more in grants

Trust Horizon is undertaking a community poll, inviting electricity consumers to have their say on a change to its Trust Deed that could see millions more invested into the Eastern Bay each year.

The current Trust Deed restricts Trust Horizon to funding ‘energy-related’ projects only. Trust Horizon is proposing to remove this stipulation, and gain the ability to support initiatives considered charitable under New Zealand law – in the process, unlocking opportunities for a far wider range of community grants.

“Our Trust Deed was written over 30 years ago, back when energy was the Trust’s main focus,” says Trust Horizon Chair, David Glover. “Over the decades our community has changed, and we now believe we can achieve more. This change will help us support a broader spectrum of worthwhile causes beyond just energy, including education, poverty relief, and health.”

To allow the Trust Deed to be more responsive, relevant and flexible, Trust Horizon is also seeking to change its variation power. Currently, amendments to Trust Horizon’s Trust Deed can only be made through an Act to Parliament. This proposed change would simplify the process – allowing the Trustees to instead make future variations with the approval of the High Court similar to other Trusts.

Trust Horizon’s Trustees are now seeking community input on the proposed changes, before making an application to Parliament.

“The purpose of this change is to give the Trust the flexibility to have even more positive impact on even more people,” says Glover. “We don’t foresee any downsides or risks to these changes, however we do want to make sure we get it right, which is why we encourage the community to make sure their voices are heard by responding to this poll.”

Launching August 27, the online and postal poll will pose the question:

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

i. Widen and clarify the charitable purposes in the Trust Deed; and

ii. Change the variation power in the Trust Deed, allowing the Trustees to make future

variations with the approval of the High Court.

A series of community information evenings will be held in early September (details below), with the poll closing on Wednesday 1st October, 2025. The results will be announced two days later, on Friday 3rd October.

Kawerau: Tuesday 2nd September, 5.00pm – Rangi Delamere Centre, Plunket Street

Ōpōtiki: Wednesday 3rd September, 5.30pm – Ōpōtiki RSA, 103 St John Street

Whakatāne: Thursday 4th September, 5.30pm – Whakatāne RSA, 13 Richardson Street

To have your say in the community poll, visit www.electionservices.co.nz/thpoll

For more information visit www.trusthorizon.org.nz/poll