The difference since 2003

Page Acorn Engineering Scholarship 2023 and 2024

The Acorn Foundation honoured winners of the 2023 and 2024 Page/Acorn Engineering Scholarship this week at a special awards ceremony.

Awarded annually to second-year apprentices at local engineering firms, recipients and their respective workplaces receive funding for two years to assist with expenses and equipment.

Since the scholarship fund was established in 2008 by the late Bob and Pat Page nearly 80 apprentices and their workplaces across the Western Bay of Plenty have received support with over $350,000 distributed.

Acorn Foundation CEO Lori Luke says Bob Page co-founded local firm Page and Macrae Engineering in 1953 and was always passionate about seeing young people succeed.  

“Bob and Pat established the scholarship fund to reward and encourage apprentices who go above and beyond expectations.  Their incredible generosity sees invaluable support given to worthy scholarship recipients.”

The Page/Acorn award ceremony, held on Tuesday May 28th, honoured recipients from the previous two years, giving the opportunity for the award winners and their families to celebrate their achievements and to connect with other local apprentices.

2023 scholarship recipients were Ezra Keenan, Robert Page Engineering, Te Mawae McAllister, Bailey Snowling, Eron Manabat, Joshua Conroy, and Lewis Graham from Page Macrae Engineering, and Adrian Meyer from Boshier Engineering.

2024 scholarship recipients are: Joshua Chugg, Alec Coleman,  Madason Leaga and Mackenzie Morgan from Page Macrae Engineering, Owen Poppe, Pacific Sawmill Engineering Limited and Jessica Winslade, Contract Mechanical Services. 

Narayan Singh won a Page/Acorn Scholarship in 2010. He completed his apprenticeship at Contract Mechanical Service, where he is now the General Manager. At Tuesday’s event he offered advice to the apprentices present and spoke about his pathway to achieving the successes he’s had in his career to date and the challenges young apprentices face.

“When I got the scholarship as a young fellow, the meaning of it didn’t strike me as much as it does now,” says Narayan. “When you get it, you don’t understand the value of wealth as much until you age. Looking back as an employer and seeing the vision of the scholarship and the legacy behind it, I can really see just how impactful it was for me.”

Lori says they look forward to awarding the scholarships annually and seeing the recipients succeed in their chosen career.

“Bob and Pat Page would be absolutely thrilled that their dream of assisting local apprentices to achieve their goals has come so far.”

Some of the Page/Acorn Engineering Scholarship recipients honoured at Tuesday’s event
Left to right: Jessica Winslade, Owen Poppe, Madason Legea, Mackenzie Morgan, Joshua Chugg,
Alec Coleman, Ezra Keenan, Te Mawae McAllister

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Takitimu House: Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness

Takitimu (The Tauranga Moana Night Shelter Trust) provides homeless men in Tauranga Moana with temporary shelter and access to services designed to break the cycle of homelessness. Their team walks alongside the men who use the shelter to begin rebuilding their lives.

Takitimu House provides safe, warm accommodation and services for homeless men, and receives funding from Acorn donors who decided to leave their fund unrestricted, meaning they have not named specific charities.

The Acorn Distributions Committee, supported by staff, read applications, review financials and meet with applicants to determine the best allocation of unrestricted funds. Since 2015, Takitimu House has received $119,249 in funding from 12 Acorn funds, with the largest contributions from the Joan Chappell-Mathias Fund, Lloyd & Kath Christie Fund and Craigs Investment Partners Community Fund.

Takitimu House has been chosen as a recipient by Craigs Investment Partners Christmas Giving Programme six years in a row to support men on their journey toward healing and independence.

We feel privileged that Craigs Investment Partners continue to acknowledge and support our organisation and the lovely men we are here to serve. ” - Annamarie Angus, Takitimu House

Individuals are supported to reach for their goals no matter how big or small. The team operates with a ‘whatever it takes’ philosophy.

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Hearing Dogs for Deaf People: Rina – Tauranga’s Newest Hearing Dog

Dogs for Deaf People NZ provides specially trained dogs that help deaf & hearing impaired people be more independent & have a better quality of life.

At Acorn Foundation, we LOVE getting visits from our furry friends – like Rina – Tauranga’s newest hearing dog.

Rina will be the hard-working companion of local Tauranga woman Rachel, who is profoundly deaf without her hearing aids, and feels vulnerable when she is home alone. Rina will be able to serve as her ears, letting her know about any sounds that occur – her phone, her smoke alarm, her doorbell, and even the ding of her oven – and Rina will help Rachel explore the city. Rina and Rachel had only been together for a few days when they visited Acorn, and Rachel was already shocked at just how much her confidence had increased with Rina by her side!

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has received funding from the Acorn Foundation over the last three years as the result of the generosity of Beverley Burns. Beverley left a gift in her will to create an endowment fund to help connect the Western Bay of Plenty’s disabled community with specially trained dogs that will dramatically increase the quality of their lives.

Deafness is often extremely isolating, especially for those who are not born deaf &/or do not sign. People who acquire deafness in later life can frequently lose the confidence to even leave their homes & hold down their jobs. A well-trained disability support dog can usually be guaranteed to encourage someone to regain this lost confidence to walk out of their front door again. 

As an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International, their dogs are trained to international standards at their national training centre based in New Plymouth, Taranaki.

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SPELD NZ: Dyslexia Learning Journey

At least one in ten people have dyslexia which impacts on literacy/numeracy development. These are essential skills needed to gain an education, employment, participate socially and contribute economically to the community.

SPELD NZ is a not-for-profit organisation providing assessment, tuition and training that can transform the lives of those with specific learning disabilities (SLD) such as dyslexia. It relies heavily on sourcing local funding to support its Western Bay of Plenty Local Liaison Group.

Local funding goes towards SPELD NZ’s financial assistance scheme for SLD learners from low income families. It is hard for parents to accept that their child has a learning disability; it is even harder when they realise they cannot afford to pay for the help needed.

Acorn Foundation funding also assists local schoolteachers to upskill through SPELD NZ’s NZQA-approved training. 

Western Bay of Plenty teacher, Emma Pollard uses the specialised skills she learned through SPELD New Zealand to support her dyslexic daughter and others like her.

"I love teaching children and seeing their zest for life and learning in the classroom. However, when I came across a student who couldn't read or write in a Year 3 classroom, I struggled to know how to help her. Whenever she had to read or write, I’d notice her bright spark leave and it broke my heart. So I decided to train as a SPELD NZ Teacher, and this is where my dyslexia learning journey began!"

Local funding also helps SPELD NZ to keep membership fees affordable. Many parents are dyslexic themselves and in low paying jobs. Teaching the next generation skills to gain educational qualifications can help break familial poverty cycles.

Providing SLD learners support before negative behaviours develop reduces stress on whanau and schools.  It also cuts costs to social welfare (less long-term benefit dependency), health (mental health issues) and the justice system (youth offending, crime).

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Waipuna Hospice: Acorn's Largest Recipient

Waipuna Hospice provides specialist palliative care for patients living with a life-limiting illness, and support services for them and their families. Waipuna’s geographical area covers Waihi Beach to Paengaroa and while its focus is on Hospice at Home, it also has a nine bed Inpatient Unit for short term admissions and a Day Services Clinic.

You will often hear the term palliative care which means alleviating without curing. Hospice specialises in providing palliative care – symptom control and pain management where cure is no longer an option. It also offers support services to patients and their support networks whether this be family/whanau, friends, neighbours, or staff at rest homes and hospitals.

Hospice staff and volunteers care for each person as an individual and take into account the person’s physical, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual needs. In addition to palliative nursing care and specialist medical support, it provides respite care, practical support such as meal preparation, loan equipment, bereavement support and a chaplaincy service.

Waipuna Hospice is the largest recipient of the Acorn Foundation, having received funding for 17 years. Acorn's endowment funds are invested in perpetuity, allowing a portion of investment returns to be distributed annually to community causes selected by the donor.

The very first donation to the hospice was $3,322 from the Ray & Elva Shepherd Fund. In total, this amazing fund has donated $443,000 to Waipuna Hospice since 2008.

Now, thanks to the collective impact of over 20 Acorn donors across the 17 years, Waipuna Hospice has received $1,034,970. To put these combined donations into perspective, and highlight the impact, Waipuna Hospice has shared what that contribution might have funded over the years:

• 100 days of community nursing care.
• 250 family support sessions with bereaved loved ones.
• Two weeks of care in their inpatient unit.
• 130 equipment deliveries, ensuring their patients have what they need to stay comfortable at home.
• 50 days of external education, helping train those providing end-of-life support, such as retirement villages.
• One year of fuel for their cars, ensuring they can support the community in their own homes.

Acorn funding allows Waipuna Hospice to continue to provide care and support to people with a life-limiting illness in our community.

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A Legacy of Love: Kathy Landsman’s Gift Helps Ruby Find Her Best Friend

When Kathy Landsman left a gift in her Will to the Acorn Foundation, she created a way for her generosity to keep supporting the community well into the future. Each year, Acorn distributes income from gifts like Kathy’s to local charities and organisations, ensuring that her legacy continues to have an impact where it is needed most.

In 2025, $12,375 from Kathy’s fund was distributed to Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust. This organisation raises, trains, and matches highly skilled assistance dogs with New Zealanders living with a range of disabilities. These dogs are more than companions, they play an important role in providing practical support, increasing independence, and helping families live with greater confidence.

Ruby’s Journey

One of the families supported through Kathy’s legacy is Ruby’s. Ruby is six years old and lives in the Bay of Plenty with her parents and three siblings. She enjoys music, laughter, and being part of the energy of family life, but she also faces significant health challenges every day.

Ruby sustained a brain injury at birth, which means she lives with significant disabilities. She is non-verbal, non-mobile, and has a severe visual impairment. To support her wellbeing, Ruby receives daily therapy and regular specialist care. At times, her health brings extra challenges, including seizures and difficulties with eating, which can be harder to manage in a lively household with three other children.

Her mum, Jasmine, says Ruby has faced more in her six years than many people experience in a lifetime. She describes her as “the strongest and bravest person I know.” Jasmine also reflects on the impact Ruby’s condition has on family life: “I often feel like our family misses out on lots of experiences that other families get to do – like going on holiday or even a simple trip to the beach in summer.”

The Wait for Gavin

When Ruby was just six months old, Jasmine placed her on the waitlist for an Assistance Dog. “I was grieving and needed something to look forward to. I wanted Ruby to have every single thing that might give her joy and add to the quality of her life,” she recalls.

After five long years of waiting, Ruby’s match finally arrived in February 2025: a handsome brindle Labrador–Golden Retriever mix named Gavin. While Jasmine admits she was nervous about the extra workload of caring for a dog, she says, “It’s been totally worth it”.

Life with Gavin

From the moment Gavin bounced into their home, life began to change. Ruby now has a constant companion who comforts her at night, eases her distress, and even helps during seizures by resting his chin gently on her lap until a caregiver arrives. For her parents, this has brought enormous reassurance and relief.

Ruby, who struggles with sleep and always wants company, now has Gavin by her side every night, which gives her comfort and allows her parents to rest too. Out in the community, Ruby relishes the extra attention that comes when Gavin walks proudly beside her. At home, Gavin retrieves toys Ruby drops from her wheelchair, giving her rare and precious moments of independence .

Ruby has also discovered new ways to play with Gavin, using a ramp to roll a ball down for a special game of fetch. “Ruby loves how excited Gavin gets around her and the other kids, and she always smiles when he comes to give her hand a lick or nuzzle,” Jasmine says.

For the family, Gavin has been nothing short of transformative. “Having an Assistance Dog has increased the quality of our family’s life. Gavin helps us smile and laugh even when life can be hard. He makes us feel special and lucky. Everyone in our family loves him so much”.

Looking ahead, Jasmine dreams of Gavin going to school with Ruby, giving her support and companionship wherever life takes her.

The Power of Legacy

Jasmine says her family feels incredibly fortunate to have Gavin: “He is a best friend to everyone in our family. He helps us stay positive and be grateful. We feel so lucky to have him in our lives.”

Support like this is only possible thanks to donors such as Kathy Landsman. Through her gift, entrusted to the Acorn Foundation, Kathy has made a lasting difference for Ruby and her family. Her legacy has provided practical support and comfort where it is needed most, showing how one person’s generosity can improve lives for years to come.

At Acorn, we often see how gifts left in Wills create long-term change the Western Bay. By leaving a gift through the Acorn Foundation, you can ensure that the causes you care about continue to be supported well into the future.

If you would like to learn more about how to leave your own legacy, please contact the Acorn team on 07 579 9839. To learn more about the work of Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust, visit assistancedogstrust.org.nz.

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Te Hā Ora Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ: Vaping Education Workshops

The use of e-cigarettes has become common in recent years, especially among New Zealand teenagers. The rate of teen vaping has rapidly increased to the point where some refer to it as a public health crisis and an epidemic.

Originally intended as an alternative to smoking, vaping companies are actively targeting youth with enticing marketing tactics.

One in 10 young people aged 14 to 15 vape daily, with that number rising to 1 in 5 among the Māori population, according to data from the New Zealand Health Survey released in December 2023. Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says doubling of daily vaping among teenagers is nothing short of a public health crisis that demands urgent attention.

“I am appalled and deeply concerned with these figures. What we are witnessing is an epidemic that needs immediate attention to address such alarming statistics.”

The proliferation of vape stores, particularly in lower socio-economic and disadvantaged areas, contributes to the accessibility and popularity of vaping. There are currently more than 1,500 Specialist Vaping Retailers across Aotearoa. In comparison, there are only 1,200 petrol stations in the entire country.

The addictive nature of nicotine-containing vapes, coupled with enticing marketing, flavours, and packaging, poses a significant challenge for schools as students become addicted to these products.

In May 2022, Te Hā Ora Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ launched a programme to deliver vaping education workshops to schools across the country - the first of its kind.

The programme arms young people with information and tools to make informed choices about vaping, including understanding the harms. The Acorn Foundation will be funding Te Hā Ora’s ability to offer 24 workshops to schools around the Bay of Plenty region. This initiative will offer thousands of young people the tools they need to break habits or avoid creating them. Nicotine addiction can have immense consequences on both health and financial capability.

We know that nicotine is one of the most addictive substances on the planet. The best way to deal with addiction is to prevent people from falling into it as early as possible, which makes this intervention critical for the long-term health of our region – both physical and financial.

Te Hā Ora Asthma & Respiratory Foundation NZ Grants and Fundraising Executive Ms Pam Francombe says she was thrilled to learn the Foundation was chosen to receive funding this year.

"This funding will make a significant impact on the lives of young people in the Western Bay of Plenty, and we are excited to share the positive outcomes that your support will enable."

Acorn is pleased to be able to invest in the health of the Bay of Plenty’s rangatahi. Acorn Foundation’s Legacy Giving Manager Campbell Higgins said, “It is a relief to know that vaping education is available for our local school students, thanks to Te Hā Ora. The late Roy & Mary McGowan would have been thrilled that their fund will support this programme.”

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Owens Scholarships 2024

The highly competitive Boy & Joy Owens Scholarships have been awarded for 2024 to seven college and high school students across the Western Bay of Plenty. These awards provide a $5,000 payment per annum for three years to the outstanding students selected. On December 12th, these remarkable young people were honoured at a celebration hosted by the Acorn Foundation at The Kollective, with an especially meaningful guest in attendance -- Olympic rower and Tauranga City Mayor Mahé Drysdale, grandson of the scholarship's founders.

Mahé shared his grandparents' belief that a good education is important.  However, whilst academic ability is important, Bob and Joy Owens were particularly interested in applicants who desire to contribute to society and make the world a better place. He mentioned that the Owens Scholarship panelists who assist the Acorn Foundation to select the winners each year look for an “X-factor” in each applicant they interview. Mahé wished the scholarship recipients well and hopes to see them become future leaders.

These award winners have shown a significant commitment to their schools and the community, with strong ideas about their future goals. The following individuals have been awarded the 2024 Bob & Joy Owens Scholarship:

• Aquinas College: Adele Arrowsmith, Bachelor of Psychology majoring in mental health principles and applications and psychological science at Victoria University of Wellington
• Bethlehem College: Greta Nemedi, Bachelor of Science specialising in Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland
• Mt. Maunganui College: Luca Ririnui, Bachelor of Science specialising in Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland
• Otumoetai College: Sophie Hock, Bachelor of Laws at the University of Waikato
• Tauranga Boys’ College: Aryan Aryal, Medicine at the University of Auckland
• Tauranga Girls’ College: Erina Islam, Biomedical Science
• Te Puke High School: Zach Wylie, Bachelor of Science majoring in Astronomy at the University of Canterbury

The entire Acorn team congratulates these fantastic students and wishes them every success as they prepare for university.

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Acorn Foundation celebrates 10% increase in endowment giving

Community Recipient List 

272 charitable organisations and scholarship programmes will benefit from this year’s Acorn Foundation distributions, marking a 10% increase in endowment giving and almost $20M in community funding since Acorn’s inception in 2003.

Acorn Foundation CEO, Lori Luke, says the number of charitable organisations and scholarship programmes receiving funding this year is 20% higher than last year, including 30 organisations which are first-time recipients in 2024.

“Our ability to give back to this region is thanks to the generosity of our incredible donors.  Our donors are enabling us to create a lasting impact that will ripple across the region for generations to come.” 

Applications received for Acorn’s unrestricted grants increased by 40% this year, reflecting the funding challenges faced by the community sector in 2024. Applications are evaluated based on Acorn’s priorities, which are approved each year by the Board based on the needs that the staff and Distributions Committee identify.  

This year’s priorities included a specific focus on those in the community with disabilities and their caregivers.

 “These groups were highlighted as particularly vulnerable in the Vital Update – Tauranga 2023 research,” explains Lori. “Acorn was able to support organisations doing excellent work with locals with physical, intellectual and learning differences.”

The annual distributions include donations from the Acorn Vital Impact Fund, which focuses on areas of greatest need in the Western Bay of Plenty. 

“With on-going concerns about residents’ access to food due to cost-of-living issues, this year’s Acorn’s Vital Impact Fund was targeted specifically towards organisations working in the food security space,” says Lori.

The Vital Impact Fund provided grants to seven different organisations which cover a range of food support, including:

• Tauranga Community Foodbank
• Good Neighbour
• Super Support
• The Hub Te Puke
• Under the Stars
• Ōtūmoetai Social Supermarket
• Kura Kai

Super Support, a food security collaboration between Tauranga Foodbank, Good Neighbour, Age Concern, Here to Help u, Bay Financial Mentors and Tauranga City Council was an easy application to approve in this year’s distribution round.

“We have an increasing concern about the affordability of food for the renting elderly,” explains Lori. “Super Support provides a free service of pre-cooked meals, basic pantry supplies and wrap-around support directly for those over 65’s who are finding it difficult to afford healthy food.”

Tanya Smith of Age Concern says, “What we have seen and heard is, if older residents are struggling with dental expenses, health costs, rent, and food price rises with no income other than superannuation, purchasing food is on the bottom of their list.”

Acorn Foundation donors support the community via a range of ways, including through gifts in wills and living giving, where a 33% tax credit is available. Called endowment, or legacy, giving, the original gift is invested, and a portion of the investment returns are distributed to causes or organisations selected by Acorn donors. Year after year, the foundation supports charities that have been named, causes that have been selected, and allocates unrestricted funds through the volunteer Distributions Committee based on applications received.

“Endowment giving reached $2.5M this year, up 10%, providing phenomenal, on-going support to the local region,” says Lori.

Acorn donor, Noeline Campbell says it’s about enduring giving.

“If you set up an endowment fund with Acorn, it will be there after you have died. Income will be generated to fund those charities you supported when you were alive. You get to experience the joy of giving during your lifetime, and you know that it will continue to have an increasing effect long after you have gone. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Acorn Foundation Legacy Giving Manager, Campbell Higgins, says with September being Wills Month, it is a great time to consider reaching out to Acorn to discuss leaving a gift in your will to celebrate the causes or organisations that matter most to you.

“It is such a privilege for our team to work with Acorn’s fantastic donors, supporters and volunteers whose generosity has enabled the Acorn Foundation to make this significant impact on the Western Bay of Plenty today and to build an enduring legacy for tomorrow.  We hope more and more locals see the unique benefits this type of giving can provide to charitable organisations across the region.  We’d love to speak to them about the causes that are closest to their hearts.”

Pictured: Jim McCrone of Sailability Tauranga (with Frances Mole, Acorn Foundation Marketing and Events Coordinator) won a hamper for guessing closest to the number of charitable organisations supported by Acorn Foundation in 2024 - 236

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Canteen: CanSurf Waihi Beach

Around 4,200 rangatahi are impacted by cancer each year in Aotearoa, whether it’s their own diagnosis or cancer in their whānau. Canteen’s mission is to make sure they don’t have to face cancer alone.

Canteen provides vital support services tailored to the individual’s specific needs and cancer experience. Their Clinical Team offer a wide range of free services to support rangatahi, including individual support, peer events, therapeutic camps and programmes, and specialised online support through Canteen Connect.

Annual funding from the Roy & Mary McGowan Fund helps Canteen support its members living in the Western Bay of Plenty (WBOP).

Chief Executive of Canteen, Nick Laing, expressed what that funding means to them, “The financial support we receive from the Roy and Mary McGowan Fund helps Canteen Aotearoa continue to provide its vital support services for rangatahi impacted by cancer. This includes individual counselling and opportunities for rangatahi to connect with others who understand what they're going through. One of the most important programmes that this fund directly supports is CanSurf, an annual camp held at Waihi Beach. It's a weekend where rangatahi learn to surf amongst other activities, which gives them a safe space to have some fun, get a break from cancer and connect with other rangatahi, creating bonds that continue long after the weekend ends.”

Over the years, more than 350 local individuals, couples, and families have decided that leaving a gift in their will to support the WBOP community is a great option. Gifts given through the Acorn Foundation are invested in perpetuity, generating investment returns that are distributed annually to community organisations working in areas that are closest to our donors’ hearts.

Roy and Mary were able to support many deserving organisations through their gift in their will to Acorn. Canteen was thrilled to be chosen by Mary to receive annual distributions from their fund.

“Canteen provided amazing support for both my siblings and I, and I cannot describe what it was like to be part of a group that completely understood my experience and were so open and honest with each other. Cancer is such an awkward topic, and it’s so freeing to be able to talk about your experience without feeling like you’re making other people uncomfortable," said Tauranga Canteen sibling member, Lola.

Lola also joined Canteen’s Leadership Programme to support other rangatahi dealing with cancer in their whānau. The programme has given her the opportunity to develop key skills, learn more about her leadership style, and support her peers.

The impact that Mary and Roy have had on our region will live on through the gift they left to the community they loved so much, through their Acorn fund.

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