Eastern & Central Community Trust

Eastern & Central Community Trust (ECCT) provides grants and support to community organisations operating in the Gisborne Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Tararua, Manawatū, Horowhenua and Wairarapa districts. In May 1988 the New Zealand Government established the 12 independent Community Trusts – covering the whole of New Zealand – and gave each of the trusts 100% ownership of the shareholding in their local trustee savings bank. The specified area of operations of each of the 12 trusts mirrored the area serviced by their regional savings bank. Our regional Trust was renamed Eastern and Central Community Trust Inc. in 1996, when the Trust Bank Group was sold to Westpac Banking Corporation. Funds were invested in diversified range of asset classes in New Zealand and overseas. Over the years the Trust has increased its capital base to approximately $220 million, and it is the returns from these investments that enable us to provide grants to our communities. Eastern & Central Community Trust is the eighth largest of the twelve Community Trusts set up under this process and donates over $8 million in grants throughout its region. The Trust operates under a Trust Deeds under the legislative framework provided by the Community Trusts Act 1999. The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Minister of Finance. ECCT currently has 11 Trustees across our six regions and a small operational team of four full time and three part-time employees. One full time employee works remotely from their home location in Wellington. All others are based in the office in Hastings, Hawke's Bay.