Treemendous School Makeovers is a joint initiative by the Mazda Foundation and Project Crimson which launched in 2007 to give New Zealand primary and intermediate schools the chance to improve and enhance their school grounds through the planting of native trees. Treemendous School Makeovers gives New Zealand primary and intermediate schools the chance to improve and enhance their school grounds through the planting of native trees.

Each year four schools are selected to get a visit from the Treemendous Team, who, along with the school community, create a beautiful native tree garden that everyone can enjoy for generations.

The inaugural recipients are Hamilton’s Ohaupo School, Kaikohe’s Ohaeawai School, Gisborne’s Wainui Beach School and Dunedin’s Karitane School – chosen from 188 colourful applications from schools throughout the country.

Ohaeawai School plans to create a garden of native trees which will attract birds, including the Northland native bird, the Kukupa – the school’s representative symbol.

Karitane School will create a garden along the front of the school as a buffer between the traffic and play area to provide shade and wind protection.

Ohaupo School will plant the area in front of its two new classrooms which formerly held the school’s swimming pool so it connects to the existing native bush on the back fence line which has trees as old as the school (prior to 1870).

Wainui Beach School’s plan is to create a bush clad area along the grassed front boundary which will attract native birds and offer the children a place to learn, relax and play. Students will be taught to recognise the different tree species and learn their Maori name, botanical name and their medicinal properties. The Treemendous School Makeovers will take place in early 2008.

www.mazdafoundation.org.nz/treemendous

Disadvantaged kids won’t have to go to school wet this winter thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Mazda Foundation.

The Mazda Foundation funding will go towards KidsCan Charitable Trust’s ‘Raincoats for Kids’ programme.

The Trust, which aims to meet the basic physical and nutritional needs of disadvantaged children, was formed in 2005 and since then has been devoted to providing three necessities – food, shoes and raincoats – to primary and intermediate pupils. KidsCan has developed preventative programmes in response to an overwhelming need faced by lower decile schools.

Carl Sunderland, spokesperson for the KidsCan Charitable Trust is delighted the Mazda Foundation is supporting the ‘Raincoats for Kids’ programme.

“I am extremely happy Mazda is behind this. It’s great for a company like Mazda to get involved.”

The grant will enable the Trust to purchase 300 raincoats which be will specially made and distributed to students in June.

Carl says recent feedback after the distribution of raincoats to more than 8,000 students last year has shown that the donation of raincoats to disadvantaged kids has not only kept youngsters dry but also helped improve their attendance at school and academic performance.

“Giving them the raincoats also improves their self esteem and gives them pride by reducing social stigma. It also encourages kids to take more care of their clothes.”

The raincoats are distributed to students who are deemed by their principals and teachers as being worthy recipients but in some cases, entire schools are supplied with the coats.

“Before launching KidsCan initiatives, we approached principals and asked them what are the main barriers students face and what we could do to help.

“The overwhelming comments were that there was a need for suitable wet weather gear,” says Carl. “We are pleased to be able to help give kids things that most people take for granted.”

Mazda Foundation grant enables Play it Strange to expand its Ukulele in Schools programme.

A group of Kiwi musicians, who have been gunning for the ukulele to replace the recorder as the primary school musical instrument of choice, are one step closer to their goal thanks to the Mazda Foundation.

Ex-pupil and music industry personality Peter Urlich (middle) teaches Sacred Heart Intermediate students how to play the Ukulele while Mike Chunn (rear left) from Play it Strange and Mazda’s Andrew Clearwater (rear right) look on.

Mazda Foundation has gifted $15,000 to the Play it Strange Trust, which encourages young New Zealanders to develop interests and skills in musical composition and performance. $7,000 has already been used to purchase 200 ukuleles for ten primary and intermediate schools in Auckland and the remaining $8,000 will enable further schools to enjoy ukulele orchestras. These schools are currently being chosen in conjunction with the Ministry of Education’s music advisor.

Play it Strange CEO Mike Chunn is the former bass guitarist of Split Enz and a huge cheerleader of homegrown music. He says the ukulele is a wonderful instrument to get younger children excited about music and leads naturally to the guitar and other more sophisticated instruments.

“Kids just love strumming away on the ukuleles,” says Chunn. “As a four stringed instrument it is simple to learn and suits smaller hands. What’s more – unlike a recorder – you can actually sing along to a ukulele. This country is fizzing with untapped musical talent and it is so important that this talent is encouraged and nurtured.”

The ukulele programme gives students access to instruments they otherwise may not have access to, and adds a new ‘fun’ dimension to music education in schools.

The ukulele donation programme to schools has been running since 2004 when the Play it Strange Trust was approached by legendary steel guitar player Bill Sevesi with the idea. Since then, 1400 ukuleles have been given out to a total of 70 schools around New Zealand.

The ten East-Auckland schools that have received ukuleles as a result of the Mazda Foundation funding include: Tamaki Primary (Panmure), Point England School (Point England), Tamaki Intermediate (Panmure), Glen Innes Primary, St Patrick’s (Panmure), Panmure Bridge School, Stanhope Rd School (Mt Wellington), Sylvia Park School (Mt Wellington), St Pius X School (Glen Innes) and Sacred Heart Intermediate (Glen Innes).

Young scouts are happy campers thanks to the Mazda Foundation.

More than 147 youths have benefited from a grant which has provided them with the tools they need for their intrepid adventures.

Funding from the Mazda Foundation to the tune of $14,450 enabled New Zealand’s second largest scout group, Motu Moana Green Bay Scout Group, to purchase new tents.

The tents have replaced old, worn tents and are used for outdoor programmes which involve teaching girls and boys aged between six and 20 personal development, life skills, survival skills, respect for nature and leadership skills.

Eddie Mei, Chairperson for the Motu Moana Green Bay Scout Group, which is located in the Auckland suburb of Green Bay, says the organisation is extremely grateful.”We got the tents made after receiving the funding and it is unbelievable how much use they have been getting so far.”

He says the tents are very high quality and will also be used at national scout jamborees and camping expeditions throughout New Zealand.

“These tents will provide children with safe and secure shelters for years to come. They are solid enough to stand strong in all weather conditions,” says Mr Mei.

The tents are also available for use at the Group’s Green Bay site by scout groups from the greater Auckland region as well as other groups and organisations within the community.

Aucklanders dug deep into their pockets in the lead up to Christmas to put smiles on the faces of sick children spending Christmas at Kidz First Children’s Hospital.

The Mazda Foundation invited people to purchase an extra gift while out Christmas shopping for the children at Kidz First and the tills rang in response. A Mazda CX-7 vehicle stationed at Westfield shopping malls around Auckland was filled to the brim with presents which were delivered to Kidz First Children’s Hospital in Manukau City – in time for Christmas.

“We have been overwhelmed with the generosity of people,” said Pamela Tregonning, Executive Director for the South Auckland Health Foundation. “It has brought happiness and excitement to these youngsters’ lives at a time when they most need it.”

Kidz First, at Manukau’s Middlemore Hospital, has an 82 bed inpatient facility and specialises in burns, plastics and orthopaedic treatment and has a Neonatal Unit for premature and critically ill newborns.

Each year 11,000 children are admitted to Kidz First and 20,000 are treated in one of the busiest emergency departments in the Southern Hemisphere. Christmas is a particularly busy time with lots of new patient admissions.

Young ballerina Katherine Grange (pictured) will follow her dream to pursue prestigious studies in Dance thanks to a generous grant from the Mazda Foundation.

The 17-year-old dancer was one of 12 recipients of the 2006 National Young Performer of the Year Award, which received backing from the Mazda Foundation.

The Foundation’s $18,000 grant helped provide 12 Mazda Performing Arts Tuition Scholarships for the 2006 National Young Performer of the Year Award winners who will further their training in four categories – ballet, tap, pianoforte and vocal.

The grant has come at a significant time for Katherine, who was prevented from taking a place at the prestigious English National Ballet due to a lack of funding. However, the aspiring dancer will use her Mazda Foundation Tuition Grant to commence studies at the New Zealand School of Dance next year.

Katherine is just one of the young and exceptionally talented performers recognised at the 2006 National Young Performer of the Year Awards, held in October.

Other first place getters were: Andrew Cesan for Tap Dance, John-Paul Muir for Pianoforte and Brigitte Heuser for vocals.

Annette Johnston, National Administrator for the Performing Arts Competitions Association of New Zealand says the donation has struck a chord with the performers and she hopes Mazda will continue the relationship for future events.

“It was absolutely delightful that Mazda decided to get behind this. This has given 12 very fine young people from all over the country the opportunity to take their careers further.

“The 2006 National Young Performer of the Year Award has been an unprecedented success.”

A total $4,500 was allocated to each category, with first place getters receiving $3,000, second place getters $1,000 and third place getters, $500.

All recipients were identified for having talent, skills and motivation to move onto a professional career in their chosen art form.

A record number of competitors (121) traveled to Tauranga from all over New Zealand for the annual competition.

The National Young Performer of the Year Award has been running since 1977 and is initiated by the Performing Arts Competitions Association of New Zealand (Pacanz).

Aspiring lifeguards will be learning how to save lives with quality equipment this summer thanks to a grant from the Mazda Foundation.

The New Plymouth Old Boys Surf Club, which provides a volunteer service to prevent drowning and injury at Oakura Beach, has received $2446 for three rescue boards for training youth members with the skills they need.

We are absolutely rapped to receive this grant. The boards are especially designed for the size of young children. The youth section is an area that we are always trying to establish and being able to provide extra gear for them helps us reach our goal,” says the Club’s Administrator Lynell Taunoa.

The Mazda Foundation grant will aid future life guards – Nippers, Rookies and Cadets ranging in age from 5 to 14 – in their surf life saving training programme.

The programme involves water and land activities and sessions are held throughout the summer months and there are local competitions that all club members can compete in.

The rescue boards are essential for the training and will be put to good use now the 2006/2007 surf life saving season has kicked off.

“Surf life saving is great for the young ones. It is fantastic because good friendships are made and they develop life skills,” says Lynell.

Youth members are encouraged to sit a surf life saving certificate and when they turn 14 they sit the Surf Life Guard award.

After obtaining this award, they move up a level and compete with the senior section of the club and become a patrol member.

There are many career paths qualified surf life savers can take, from becoming a Paid Life Guard, Search and Rescue or Coach Force Coaching to a Beach Education Instructor, Coaching and Administrator or management roles.

Communication is something you can’t live without. Which is why the Mazda Foundation has supported TalkLink Trust – to help enhance communication for New Zealanders who struggle with spoken and written language.

A $12,810 grant will increase the range of assessment and trial equipment available to TalkLink clients nationwide and to reduce waiting times for equipment.

TalkLink provides a free specialist assessment service to people with a disability, but an obstacle for TalkLink is obtaining equipment funding.

“The equipment helps improve quality of life for many people and their ability to communicate,” says TalkLink Trust Manager, Ann Smaill.

“The funding from Mazda has enabled us to get additional equipment to make sure people with communicative disabilities are using the right options.

“We determine if the technology will assist them in communication. We trial it first on a loan period so we have to make sure that we have the equipment available,” she says.

TalkLink provides assistive communicative technology to assist people of all ages, from all walks of life who suffer from communicative disabilities.

Assistive technology is an item, piece of equipment or product system used to increase or improve functional capabilities of people with disabilities.

While many disorders derive from birth, others are triggered by conditions like motor neurone diseases, head injuries and stroke.

TalkLink Trust has centres in Auckland and Wellington and has a therapist in Whangarei and relies on grants, donations and sponsorship for operational costs.

During the past two years TalkLink has expanded its services to the whole North Island, which has meant an increase in referrals and increased pressure on the assessment equipment available.

The Monarch Butterfly New Zealand Trust was awarded a Mazda Foundation grant of $8,000 back in April so it could embark upon an important project to monitor and protect New Zealand’s endemic butterflies.

With funding from the Mazda Foundation, Jacqui Knight from the Monarch Butterfly New Zealand Trust headed off in September for a whirlwind tour of New Zealand. In just three weeks Jacqui covered over 6,000kms visiting twenty different towns throughout New Zealand from Invercargill to the Far North, in the shiny new butterfly-embellished Mazda3 she fondly refers to as ‘Monica Mazda’ (think Monarch-a Mazda)!

Jacqui says the response to the tour has been very positive.

“People are starting to realize they are seeing fewer butterflies each and every year. Through these workshops we have recruited a number of people who have committed to regular walks throughout the warmer months, noting down the butterflies they see and then inputting the data into our website.

“Data from these monitoring walks is already coming through and we expect to receive a lot more over the summer months. This will give us an idea of how many species we have and where they’re found – vital information if we are to be able to put conservation measures in place.”

South Island lepidopterist Brian Patrick says that sadly young New Zealanders are no longer familiar with even the most common butterflies because of the elimination of them from our cities, towns and countryside.

“It’s teetering on the edge of survival,” he said. “The plight of our butterfly fauna is heavily dependant on human respect if they are to survive and thrive.”

Auckland City babes will benefit from an educational initiative thanks to a grant from the Mazda Foundation.

The Books for Babes Trust is an initiative set up to stimulate parent and child relationships, form special bonds and increase literacy and set up skills for life.

The Auckland City initiative raises funds for the purchase of books which are distributed to homes where children do not always have access to books.

Each year it aims to raise $40,000 which goes towards buying books. The generous $5,000 donation from Mazda in its October round of funding has been translated into more than 500 books in homes.

“We are over the moon as the grant will buy a lot of books! We are so grateful, it is amazing! If it wasn’t for organisations like the Mazda Foundation we would fall to pieces,” says Books for Babes Trust administrator Liz Patterson.

The books are purchased by the Trust and with the help of Auckland District Health Board visiting therapists, Public Health nurses and Plunket nurses, five titles are delivered to a deserving family over a 12 month period.

As well as providing youngsters and their families with necessary learning resources, Books for Babes aims to stimulate parent and child relationships by promoting the value of reading to children.

Books for Babes caters for the 0-2 year age group – a crucial age in which the bond between mother and child is vital for future stability of the family.

Auckland City Libraries assist by ascertaining books that are most appropriate for different age groups and books are available in a range of widely spoken languages, second to English.

“It is about finding out what the needs are of the family and seeing if they have books or not,” says Liz.

“There has been so much research about how important it is to read to under five year olds. Spending time with a child a doing things together is very important.”

However, it’s not just children that benefit from the programme.

“We find there are more books in the home at the end of the 12 month period – not just for the children but also for adults,” says Liz.