- Organisation supported: Waka Pacific Trust, Manukau, Auckland
- Project details: Wero Climb, a16-metre-high climbing structure on the grounds of Wero Whitewater Park in Manukau, which is set to welcome up to 100 people at a time across its 78 climbing elements when it opens in mid-2025.
- Four Winds Foundation grant funding allocated: $740,000 over a number of grants.
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.”
