A) Resourcing our Future
Since our transition to an independent charitable trust in early 2026, Wellbeing Waikato has been focused on our business plan priorities while also strengthening the foundations that will allow us to continue as a trusted, enduring and valuable part of the wellbeing ecosystem in the Waikato region.
Like all community and purpose-led organisations, our ability to create sustained impact ultimately depends on resourcing. Since our establishment as the Waikato Wellbeing Project in 2019, we have been fortunate to receive strong support from WEL Energy Trust, Trust Waikato, Waikato Regional Council, Future Proof, MAS Foundation, and others. That support has enabled us to build credible evidence, practical tools, and a growing regional understanding of wellbeing challenges and opportunities.
As we look ahead, we are now focused on securing the next phase of support for the organisation over the next 3+ years. This is about ensuring continuity of the work already underway and enabling us to deepen and extend our contribution to the region’s wellbeing outcomes. We are doing this in a context where many highly valued organisations are under increasing funding pressure, and we recognise both the privilege of our past support and the reality of a constrained and competitive funding environment.
To support this next stage, we are working with The Giving Architects to explore opportunities for future funding and partnership. This work has four key strands:
Sharing our story more widely, and clearly articulating the value we add for those who may know of us but are not yet familiar with how we work or what we deliver.
Seeking advice from leaders across the community, business, philanthropic and public sectors on how we can best organise and prioritise for the next stage of our development.
Strengthening partnerships with organisations across the Waikato who share aligned goals, so we can deliver more collectively and avoid duplication.
Engaging with potential funders and in-kind partners who may wish to support the next phase of Wellbeing Waikato’s work.
If you would like to talk with us about any of these opportunities, we would welcome the conversation. Please feel free to contact Harvey at harvey@wellbeingwaikato.org.nz
B) Additional Trustees
We were pleased in August to receive a strong level of interest from people exploring the opportunity to join the Board of Trustees for Wellbeing Waikato. The Trustees have reviewed the expressions of interest received to date and reflected carefully on the breadth of skills, experience, and perspectives we are seeking at this point in the organisation’s next phase.
Following this review, it has been decided to keep the process open for a further period to allow more people to consider whether they may wish to engage with us, and to ensure we are able to draw from a sufficiently wide and diverse pool of potential trustees.
Further information about the role and next steps will be made available shortly.
On behalf of the Trustees, we would like to sincerely thank everyone who has taken the time to engage with Wellbeing Waikato and express interest in contributing to the governance of the organisation.
