About us
About the Trust
Supporting the people, places and projects that help the Hauraki Plains thrive.
What we're here for
Supporting our community
The Townshend-Thomas Charitable Community Trust supports the Hauraki Plains community through grants. Our aim is simple: to relieve hardship, advance education, and help make the district a better place to live.
We do that across five areas — community, economic development, education, health, and sport. We focus our giving on Ngatea and the wider Hauraki Plains, the place the family has called home for generations.
Our story
The families behind the name
The Trust was established in 2017 by Mark and Diane Townshend and named after the families who have been part of the Hauraki Plains for generations.
The name brings together the Townshend and Thomas families, recognising Mark’s grandparents Charles and Margaret Townshend, Jack and Jess Thomas, and his parents Gray and Marie Townshend.
They cared deeply about the district and the people in it, and believed in helping where they could. Through the Trust, Mark and Diane continue that tradition by supporting local people, groups and projects that make a positive difference across the Hauraki Plains.
Our trustees
A volunteer group, grounded locally
The Trust is guided by a small group of volunteer trustees — a mix of Townshend family members and independent people from the local community.
Together they assess applications and steward the Trust’s giving, all on a voluntary basis. Bringing family and independent perspectives together helps keep decisions grounded, fair and focused on what’s best for the Hauraki Plains.
Our impact
Some of what we’ve funded
Since 2017 we’ve supported a wide range of people, groups and projects across the Hauraki Plains. A few examples:
- The Ngatea Volunteer Fire Brigade
- A walking and cycle track on the Ngatea domain
- Cricket nets and pitches for local clubs
- The Hauraki Fitness Centre
- Local primary schools, through our school rotation programme
- Hauraki Plains College grants and scholarships for school leavers
- Health Ngatea and the local health centre
- Ngatea Pharmacy
- Rescue helicopter services that serve the region
- Local community groups, halls, bands and events
We’ll share more of these as stories over time.
Where it goes
Where our grants have gone
A snapshot of how our grant funding has been shared across four of our pillars since 2017. Our economic development work is anchored separately by the upcoming business hub.
How we help
Grants for local projects
We offer grants to individuals, groups and organisations whose work fits one of our five areas and benefits the Hauraki Plains. If you have a project, programme or idea in mind, we’d genuinely like to hear about it.