Trust Horizon Bill Passes Parliament, Opening Door to Wider Charitable Funding

Additional charitable funding could soon become available to communities across the Eastern Bay of Plenty after the Trust Horizon (Trust Variation) Bill passed its third reading in Parliament.

Additional charitable funding could soon become available to communities across the Eastern Bay of Plenty after the Trust Horizon (Trust Variation) Bill passed its third reading in Parliament this week.

The Bill, which has now completed its parliamentary process, will broaden the purposes for which Trust Horizon can distribute charitable funding beyond energy-related projects.

It still requires Royal Assent from the Governor-General, which is expected later this month, before the changes to Trust Horizon's Deed can legally take effect.

The amendment will allow the Trust to fund other charitable purposes that “directly or indirectly” benefit the Eastern Bay of Plenty, including Whakatāne, Kawerau, Ōpōtiki and Kaingaroa Village.

East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick, who has sponsored the Bill through Parliament, said she was pleased to help get the legislation across the line.

Bills of this nature require an MP to promote them through the parliamentary process, said Kirkpatrick, who was asked by Trust Horizon to shepherd the Bill through the House as the local MP.

"I'm always keen to see bills or work or legislation done that enhances the opportunities for locals and for local communities and organisations," she said.

Kirkpatrick said the change would give Trust Horizon considerably more flexibility in how it supported projects across the region.

Under the previous legislation, Trust Horizon could support the energy-related components of a project but not necessarily the wider project itself.

She used the example of a sports club wanting to upgrade its clubhouse.

"They could support the solar panels and the insulation and the wiring for fixing up the clubhouse at the sports club, but they couldn't fix the roof," she said.

"And so it seemed illogical that you could do half a project but not the others."

The Trust's existing restrictions had also meant it was not always able to attract enough suitable applications to make full use of its available funding.

Kirkpatrick said broadening the Trust's purpose would open the door to more organisations and projects.

"Lots of other organisations like hospice, like sports clubs, schools, various others, which have always been supported but only to energy related can now put in other projects for funding across the wider Eastern Bay of Plenty," she said.

"As we know, [the region] can always use more funds and more grant funding to deliver better projects for our community."

The Bill was formally introduced to Parliament on 26 February 2026, following community consultation.

It passed its first reading on 11 March before being referred to the Social Services and Community Committee, where submissions were heard and the proposed changes considered in detail.

The committee unanimously recommended that the Bill be passed, including the provision allowing Trust Horizon's funds to be applied to either energy-related charitable purposes or other charitable purposes.

On 2 September, the Bill went before the Committee of the Whole House, where MPs considered its provisions and any proposed amendments.

It then proceeded to its third reading, where Parliament voted for the Bill to pass.

Kirkpatrick said the select committee and parliamentary process had been thorough, with support from across the political spectrum.

"Members of Parliament across all parties were very complimentary of the work of the Trust and the need for this legislation so that the area of Eastern Bay of Plenty could benefit from it," she said.

"There was a lot of support, and people were very pleased to see the change and to make sure that the community was well looked after."

She also acknowledged the work undertaken by Trust Horizon throughout the process.

"It's a huge amount of work to deliver something like this," she said.

Kirkpatrick said Trust Horizon chair David Glover, chief executive Derek Caudwell, the Trust's legal teams, management and trustees had worked hard on the consultation and legal requirements needed to bring the Bill before Parliament.

Now that the third reading has passed, the remaining step is Royal Assent.

"Basically it is legally able to be enacted by the Trust," Kirkpatrick said.

Once the legislation takes effect, Trust Horizon will begin working through what its expanded granting programme will look like, including which projects and priorities it will support.

Trust Horizon chair David Glover said reaching the end of the parliamentary process was a significant milestone.

"Parliament has agreed to unlock greater funding potential for current and future generations of the Eastern Bay of Plenty," he said.

"We're extremely pleased to have reached this point."

Glover said the change would give the Trust greater flexibility to respond to the needs and opportunities within Eastern Bay communities, while retaining its commitment to energy-related outcomes.

Trust Horizon chief executive Derek Caudwell said the Trust would now implement the changes to its Deed following Royal Assent.

Trustees expect to be able to accept applications supporting other charitable purposes from 1 April 2027, allowing time to establish a new granting budget covering the two amended purposes.

"We encourage the community to stay engaged with the Trust as we move forward into this exciting new granting space," Caudwell said.

Kirkpatrick said the change represented an important opportunity for the region.

"The community should be really proud of what Trust Horizon has achieved over the years and what it will achieve going forward," she said.

With the parliamentary process now complete, attention turns back to Trust Horizon as it prepares to broaden its funding programme and determine how the additional opportunities will be made available to Eastern Bay communities.