For visitors to Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo, the first animals they encounter are often the most memorable: Si, Jambi, Eko, and Bhutan, the Zoo’s beloved Asian small-clawed otters.

Wanting to keep these playful ambassadors a highlight of every visit and enhance their well-being, Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo is redeveloping the otter habitat, beginning with the construction of a new sleeping hut.

This is the latest step in enhancing the Zoo’s role as a community-focused, conservation-driven destination.

The Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo team says: “The redevelopment of the otter habitat was identified as a priority project as it is the first habitat people experience when they enter the Zoo.”

“Otters are a community favourite, so we designed a new viewing deck and window… accompanied by a new house for our expert Zoo keepers to provide better care for the animals, including a new indoor sleeping space for the otters – and visitors can see into this space as well.”

The project has been made possible through the ongoing support of the Four Winds Foundation, the Zoo team continues.

“Four Winds Foundation has generously supported multiple projects within the Zoo… They have been a long-term supporter and understand our Kaupapa ‘Me Tiaki, Kia Ora – we must all look after the environment so all life can flourish.’”

According to the Zoo, the goal for the otter habitat development “was to increase the space available for the otters and improve the viewing opportunities for our visitor community when they first enter the Zoo. This ensures we create more opportunities for visitors to connect with animals when they arrive.”

With more space for otters to thrive, and more opportunities for the public to connect with them, Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo is bringing conservation, care, and community closer together, proudly supported by the Four Winds Foundation.

For many students at Tarawera High School in Kawerau, getting to extracurricular activities, academic events, or off-site learning opportunities can be a challenge.

The school serves students from years 7 to 13, many of whom rely on school support for access to opportunities that others might take for granted. Transport has long been a barrier to full participation, limiting students’ ability to attend sports tournaments, cultural experiences, leadership camps, and field trips.

Julie Mees, Tarawera High School’s Deputy Principal, explains: “Transport can be a barrier to activities being feasible, not only for the students but also for teachers who need to source additional transport options to make things happen. This is not always possible and can be both time consuming and expensive.”

To address this, Tarawera High School is planning the purchase of a dedicated school van as a safe and reliable solution to a long-standing issue. Thanks to a recent grant from the Four Winds Foundation, the school now has the funding it needs to make this project a reality.

Julie says the van will have a powerful impact on student access and equity: “This will open up opportunities for all students to participate in valuable curriculum and extracurricular opportunities — increased exposure to sport, academic and cultural experiences that would not otherwise be possible.”

The van will be fitted with a tachograph for safety compliance and branded with the school’s identity, promoting both student wellbeing and pride.

Julie believes this visibility will build connection and confidence: “A branded van will give our students and staff a sense of pride and identity. It will also send a positive message to our community that we are committed to providing opportunities for their children.”

The school hopes to have the van in service by June 2025, ready to take students where they need to go to learn, grow, and thrive.

For families with a child in hospital, simple comforts can make a world of difference.

Thanks to the ongoing support of the Four Winds Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) New Zealand continues to provide safe, welcoming spaces for families facing some of the toughest times of their lives.

Each year, RMHC NZ supports close to 4,500 families travelling for critical care, offering accommodation across eight facilities nationwide. In Auckland alone, 2,945families stayed in 2024, with 53% of nights provided to families from regions where Four Winds operates including Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, and Wellington.

Four Winds has supported RMHC NZ for several years, most recently funding the refurbishment of two bathrooms at Ronald McDonald House Auckland Domain. Completed earlier this year, the upgrades transformed dated spaces into clean, modern, and calming environments.

“Families appreciate the comfort of their own facilities at the end of a long day on the ward,” says Wayne Howett, RMHC NZ’s CEO. “A lovely bathroom featuring a hot shower and all the amenities they need lends to how comfortable they feel and is greatly appreciated by families.”

With more than 1,100 families staying at Domain House each year and occupancy around 80%, well-maintained bathrooms are essential. “Having a bathroom out of order means one less family we are able to house on site,” Wayne continues.

“Without the generosity of the Four Winds Foundation, we would not be able to maintain our bathroom facilities to such a high standard, and risk having to put rooms out of order until we can raise the funds by other means to carry out the refurbishments”

Four Winds is proud to support RMHC NZ in helping families stay close during treatment, offering not just a place to stay, but a true home away from home.

This support is appreciated by the families who stay at Domain House, too. As one family shared: “Offering us a safe, beautiful space at no financial burden to us, meant we could be with our loved ones without having the added worry. Thank you... We are grateful.”

Water safety is a crucial life skill in Aotearoa, where the close connection to water is part of everyday life for many.

As one of the key organisations responsible for encouraging participation in sport and recreation in Auckland, Aktive plays an important role in encouraging water safety, with the help of partners like the Four Winds Foundation.

With support from Four Winds, Aktive has been able to facilitate the delivery of its Water Skills for Life programme to tamariki in specific areas of Counties Manukau, focusing on those most vulnerable to water-related risk.

Since its inception in 2011, Water Skills for Life has reached over 100,000 school-aged tamariki, delivering more than 1.38 million lessons. Four Winds’ funding specifically supported schools with an Equity Index of 420 and above, ensuring equitable access to this life-saving education.

Eligible students received eight professionally delivered lessons designed to build confidence and core water competencies, including floating, treading water, safe entries and exits, and basic rescue skills. These lessons help tamariki learn how to keep themselves safe in, on, and around water.

Jennah Wootten, Chief Executive of Aktive, says: “Water Skills for Life provides freely available resources aimed at enhancing the quality and focus of aquatic programmes.  This programme emphasises age-appropriate skills relevant to environments where drownings most commonly occur, such as beaches, rivers and lakes.”

Together, this partnership has strengthened water safety knowledge, created safer communities, and will have a lasting impact for generations to come.

Jennah continues: “Our ability to deliver Water Skills for Life, in pools across Auckland, depends hugely on the generosity of funders such as Four Winds Foundation whose support enables more children to participate,”.

“The recent grant from Four Winds Foundation directly supports eight schools in Counties Manukau which will help tamariki keep themselves safe in, on and around water.”

The John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation’s Community Swim Programme continues to deliver life-saving water skills to children in South and East Auckland, thanks to support from the Four Winds Foundation.

In Term 4 of 2024, the programme reached an impressive 4,640 children across 23 schools, delivering a total of 37,120 lessons. Over the 2024 year-to-date, the impact is even greater; 19,905 children have participated, receiving 159,240 free swimming lessons.

According to Rick Pickard, General Manager of the John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation, this achievement would not have been possible without the ongoing backing of partners like Four Winds.

“The support of the Four Winds Foundation is truly valued as it is enabling us to meet the schools' demands with the increase in their roll numbers,” says Rick. “It simply is the kids, in Auckland’s area of greatest need, who are benefitting.”

The Community Swim Programme provides more than just lessons; it covers transport, pool and lane hire, and professional instructors, ensuring no barriers stand between a child and essential water safety skills.

The programme operates from Ōtāhuhu to Papakura, and has faced increasing pressure due to population growth and school roll increases.  

“We’ve had to be very strategic,” Rick says. “The $75,000 in funding from Four Winds enables more than 20,000 water skills for life lessons to be delivered. That’s a tangible impact, measurable down to the dollar.”

The Community Swim Programme is soon to reach a significant milestone, Rick continues: “We are on track to deliver our 2 millionth free swimming lesson later this year. This will be a huge celebration as we reach this incredible milestone.”

The impact of this programme is felt deeply across the community, equipping tamariki with vital skills and confidence in the water.  

“This is about inclusion and opportunity,” says Rick. “Every child, regardless of ability or circumstance, deserves this chance. We’re about helping every child strive to be their best, and we couldn’t do it without partners like Four Winds Foundation backing us where it counts most.”

Wero Climb, a 16-metre-high climbing structure on the grounds of Wero Whitewater Park in Manukau, is set to welcome up to 100 people at a time across its 78 climbing elements when it opens in mid-2025.

“Think of it as a gigantic jungle gym,” says Waka Pacific Trust Chief Executive David Comery. “It’s spread over three levels, each with varying degrees of difficulty, so you could be on the highest level but tackling an easier element – or lower down doing something really challenging.”

The $3 million project is fully funded thanks to a wide range of supporters, including the Four Winds Foundation, which has contributed $740,000 to date.

“Four Winds was the first funder with a $40,000 grant,” says David. “This enabled us to complete our due diligence and prepare a fulsome business case. This created the momentum to go forward allowing me to successfully approach other funders.”

“Four Winds has been a strong and loyal supporter of this Trust and our activities. During Covid we had a complete failure of our filtration system… Four Winds still supported us through a grant at a difficult time and we will never forget that.”

Wero Climb features a dual-connection safety system to allow flexible movement. Construction is due to finish in May 2025, with a target of 15,000 kids being able to climb the structure for free in its first year. 

To honour Four Winds’ long-standing support, David says the Trust has renamed its premier 700-seat performance venue as the Four Winds Foundation Theatre. “We could not do this without the assistance with our capital expenditure needs from entities such as Four Winds.”

I cannot thank you and your team enough for your belief in our mission, your patience and support with what has been our biggest undertaking in our 20 year history. "Keeping things squeaky clean and up to date really helps give our Houses that ‘home-away-from-home’ feeling.

A huge thanks to Four Winds Foundation, Oxford Sports Trust and Kathleen Dorothy Kirkby Charitable Trust for their generous support which keeps our bathrooms in tip top shape!" -Ronald McDonald House

Four Winds supports transportation of school students from across Auckland to the museum’s education programmes. Some of the teachers feedback:

“We were very appreciative of the generosity of Four Winds in paying for our buses to the museum. It made a big difference to our parents, especially in these difficult times. Both children and adults loved the trip. Thank you so much to Four Winds and the staff at the museum, especially Lee, our educator.”

“Often the costs of transport and the trip itself are prohibitive, that's why we are so thankful to Four Winds Foundation for supporting our students’ learning.”

For many years the support of Four Winds Foundation has helped drive impact programmes that accelerate and deliver sustainable world-class healthcare for children all over New Zealand.  From all us at Starship Foundation and on behalf of the children, families, doctors and nurses whose lives intersect powerfully at Starship every hour of everyday we are extremely grateful for the kindness and generosity of the Four Winds Foundation. Thank you!

Four Winds Foundation was proud to support the 2020 New Zealand Festival of the Arts, specifically two of their free public events – Laurie Anderson’s Concert for Dogs and digital visual arts installation Into The Open presented in Partnership with Te Papa.

Thanks to Four Winds over 30,000 humans and 300 dogs enjoyed free art on the Wellington waterfront!

Contact
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