Nor'West News: February 01, 2024

6
Open day offers
insight into
Freemasonry
THE CANTERBURY Masonic
Charitable Trust will be hosting
an information desk at the
Freemasons Open Day, at
Ferrymead Heritage Park on
Sunday (10am–4pm).
Local groups, charities and
community organisations are
encouraged to attend to discuss
how to apply for funding.
In celebration of its 60th year,
the trust committed $60,000
to the Air Rescue Trust to
support annual training costs
for helicopter rescue pilots on
Instrument Flight Rules.
IFR allows pilots to fly in
low visibility, such as in fog
or low light. The ability to
perform in challenging terrain
and conditions is central to
the crew’s effectiveness in
responding to emergency
situations. All rescue pilots
must undergo annual training
and checks, and the signififcant
donation helps to support this
service.
Over the past nine years, the
trust has funded the Freemasons
Christchurch nursing
scholarship, for applicants
undertaking the Bachelor of
Nursing at Ara Te Pūkenga.
Other recent recipients of
charitable grants from CMCT
include NZ Spinal Trust,
Gilberthorpe School, Seabrook
MacKenzie, Christchurch Land
Search and Rescue, and Graeme
Dingle Foundation.
By raising funds from car
parking near the Hagley
Netball Courts during winter,
plus a donation from the trust
that was matched by a national
charity, CMCT raised enough
to purchase all the netball
goal posts for the new indoor
Canterbury Netball Centre at
Ngā Puna Wai.
‘We’re here for everybody’
• From page 5
The Merito whānau has fiftyfour
years of association with
Ōtautahi Sports, having been
founding members of the rugby
club in 1969, while the Hepi
whānau joined in the 1970s and
have since had their tamariki and
mokopuna participate in every
sport available.
As well as nurturing existing
relationships, Ōtautahi Sports
has formed new relationships
as it has grown, collaborating
with He Waka Tapu and Te
Rūnanga o Ngā Maata Waka
at Ngā Hau e Whā. The club’s
focus on community enables it to
forge new relationships through
member connections and word of
mouth.
Ōtautahi Sports recognises
cost is the most signififcant
barrier to people wanting to
engage in sports
and cultural
activities. Merito
notes the current
fifnancial climate
as a pressure
point for many
Leighton
Evans
whānau. She
says the club
fundraises to
help remove cost barriers to
participation through events such
as hāngi, quiz nights, kai raffles,
and venue hire.
Rātā Foundation chief
executive Leighton Evans says
the club’s impact will be felt for
generations to come.
“Involvement in sport,
active recreation, and cultural
activities has many benefifts for
communities, but we know some
people face barriers that make
participation more challenging,”
he said.
“Ōtautahi Sports is working
to actively remove barriers,
ensuring more people have access
to sport and opportunities for
cultural connection. The mahi
they are doing today will have a
Thursday February 1 2024
lasting impact on the future of
Christchurch communities.”
While Ōtautahi Sports is
fortunate to have been gited a
Māori name by Ngāi Tahu as
mana whenua, Merito says it is
not a sports club exclusively for
Māori and Pasififka whānau and
their doors are open to anyone
who wishes to join.
Merito says, “We’re here for
everybody. We welcome anybody
and everybody, but we are
kaitiaki of the name Ōtautahi
Sports, affectionately known as
OT for short.”
WHĀNAU-FOCUSED: Members of Ōtautahi Sports prepare
for a hāngi fundraiser at their Tuam St clubrooms.
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