Community News

We’re proud to be part of our community. Over the past 150 years we’ve been giving grassroots support to hundreds of organisations who care for the region like we do.

On this page you’ll find news about the wonderful initiatives and organisations we support, as well as interesting updates from our team.

Grant funding round opens 1 October

Grant funding round opens 1 October

The second of the WBS Charitable Trust’s community funding rounds for 2024 opens at the beginning of October. Those wishing to apply for funding for their project or initiative will have six weeks to do so. Application forms will be live on the Community Funding page...

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Feeling at home with WBS

Feeling at home with WBS

Many of our members have been with us for quite some time. Over their years with us, we inevitably become friends with those who keep in regular contact. One such investor is Warren Reiri of Masterton.

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Achieving a dream of home ownership

Achieving a dream of home ownership

When Arna Lackner and Alex Tate started looking for their first home in Masterton, they came across the house of their dreams. But, while they had pre-approval to buy a home, the bank they were dealing with would not extend that approval to cover the dream home. That’s when Arna and Alex came to WBS and that’s when their dream home became a reality.

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WBS maintains strong credit rating

WBS maintains strong credit rating

The credit rating agency Fitch has once again given WBS a stable BB+ rating, a score that the Masterton-based lending and investment provider has now held for more than 15 years.

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Making a difference to hockey in Wairarapa

Making a difference to hockey in Wairarapa

Another local group that received support from the WBS Charitable Trust back in April was Wairarapa Hockey. Their Operations Manager, Sharon Gates, was in touch recently to let us know how their grant made a difference.

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More community funding success

More community funding success

We recently closed our October funding round. We’ll soon let applicants know the results of their submissions. In the meantime, good news stories keep coming in from applicants in our April funding round. The latest of these stories was from the Wairarapa Spitfires Baseball Club.

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Honouring Wairarapa’s best businesses

Honouring Wairarapa’s best businesses

What a pleasure it was to attend the WBS Wairarapa Awards Gala Dinner on Tuesday night. So many amazing individuals, businesses and organisations that are putting in the mahi on their own, or with a team, to have a positive impact in our community.

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Our October grant funding round is open

Our October grant funding round is open

WBS turned 150 this year. As part of the WBS Charitable Trust’s celebration of this milestone, the Trust committed an investment of $150,000, to be shared through four grant funding rounds across this year and next.

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