2023 Annual Report

The Foundation enjoyed considerable growth in its activities and its fund in 2023. The Auckland and Wellington En Pointe Patrons supported several RNZB projects. In 2023 the Foundation reached $912,787 in investments. 

New initiatives:

• We held two events with Hannah O’Neill: a Q&A with RNZB Acting Artistic Director David McAllister, and a fundraising dinner at the Northern Club. 

• The Auckland and Wellington En Pointe Patrons provided vital support to keep the RNZB dancers ‘on their toes’, with a donation towards pointe shoes. 

• We held fundraising cocktail parties in the Hawke’s Bay at Te Mata Homestead, and before the RNZB’s performance of Woman of Words at the Wanaka Festival. 

Guests enjoy the Foundation cocktail party in the Hawkes Bay 

Working with the RNZB:

• We hosted a celebration, following the RNZB’s Platinum performance, to mark the RNZB’s 70th birthday. 

• For the third year, with support from an anonymous donor, we funded the RNZB Foundation Scholar at the RNZB. The 2023 Scholar was Ema Takahashi 

• Grants to the RNZB totalled $108,500 

DANCEwithME performance. Photo Frank Sin 

By the numbers:

• Events in Auckland, Wellington, Wanaka and Hawkes Bay hosted more than 670 guests 

• 22 volunteers supported our fundraising efforts 

• Shaun James Kelly received the Harry Haythorne Award 2023 

• $25,000 grant made to the RNZB for dancers’ pointe shoes 

• $10,000 grant made to the RNZB towards the choreographic fee for a new work by Moss Te Ururangi Patterson 

• $10,000 towards the set and costume hire for Logos by Alice Topp. 

• $10,000 towards staging of Requiem for a Rose by Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa 

• $10,000 grant made to the RNZB for Ballet in a Box performances and dance workshops, in Auckland. 

• $6,000 grant made to RNZB for DANCEwithME, dance workshops and performance for low decile schools in Manukau. 

Te Ao Mārama, Choregraphed by Moss Te Ururangi Patterson. 

Investment:

• Craigs Investment Partners continues to manage the Foundation’s funds under a Discretionary Investment Management Service. 

• A conservative investment strategy and our granting policy resulted in the continued growth of the Foundation’s investments. 

Other Activities:

• Total notified bequests are 29; our supporters and donors continue to grow. The Foundation received 2 bequests in 2023. 

Governance:

• Throughout 2023 Jane Meares (Chairperson), Louise Binns, Sarah Cole, Ann-Louise Gower, Melanie Morris, Victoria Muir and Ian Webster remained as Trustees. RNZB appointee Isaac Hikaka retired at the end of his appointment to the Board in May and Nuwanthie Samarakone was appointed RNZB Trustee to the Board. RNZB appointee Lady Lilias Bell retired at the end of her appointment to the Board in December 2023. Louise Binns was reappointed as a Trustee for a further term of three years and made Deputy Chair of the Board. 

• Trustees are appointed in accordance with clause 7.3 of our Rules and, in addition to the skills outlined, the Board has regard to the need for representation from different regions within New Zealand. We were pleased to continue to have representation from each of New Zealand’s four main centres. The Foundation endeavours to have national reach. 

• Auckland was represented by 4 trustees, Wellington by 3, Christchurch by 1 and Dunedin by 1. 

• The Auckland Trustees are supported by a committee including Ian Webster (Chair), Louise Binns, Sarah Cole, Carol Ross, Lenise Lendrum, Diane Field, Colin Keel, Nuwanthie Samarakone and Simon Lambourne. 

• Wellington Trustees are support by a Committee including Ann-Louise Gower (Chair), Lady Susan Arnold, Sarah Bartlett, Jane Meares, Sarah Singleton, Anna Hinderwell and Sarah Ting. 

• Christchurch Trustees are supported by a Committee including Melanie Morris (Chair) and Ros Burdon. 

• Dunedin/Otago Trustees are supported by a Committee including Victoria Muir (Chair), Claire Hazledine (Queenstown), Vickie Fulton (Wanaka). 

• Hawkes Bay Committee comprises Lenise Lendrum, Nathanael Skelton, Clare Gordon. 

The Foundation could not exist without the unstinting support and indefatigable effort of my fellow trustees and all the subcommittee members. They give voluntarily and generously of their time and other resources and contribute to the Foundation with their enthusiasm and vision. I thank them for all they do for the Foundation and I also extend my heartfelt thanks to our patrons and supporters, without whom our work would not be possible. 

Jane Meares
Chair, Board of Trustees, The Royal New Zealand Ballet Foundation Trust