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
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...
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.
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.
The perfect new owners for Neighbourhood Coffee
While home owners are our largest client base at WBS, we also lend to many business, commercial and property development clients. Among our many commercial clients is Loni Hansen from Neighbourhood Coffee in Martinborough.
A shining example of sporting passion and commitment
Another team that we’re very proud to support is the Farrier’s Dalefield Premier Men’s hockey team.
Tag us in a photo for your chance to win!
We’re giving away three prizes for the best photos of people in our WBS Whetū the Penguin photoboards at the Festival of Christmas in Greytown.
Helping local sports teams shine
We love sponsoring Wairarapa sports teams and helping them achieve their sporting goals. We are proud this year to sponsor the Gladdy Gold junior hockey team.
Proudly supporting this year’s Wairarapa Film Festival
The highlight of the 2024 Wairarapa Film Festival is the attendance of Greytown-born artist, director, screenwriter and filmmaker, Vincent Ward (ONZM).
Starting early on the road to financial success
Most definitely among our younger investors, we were thrilled to recently welcome siblings Oscar and Esther Gleeson to WBS.
Applications for grant funding close on Tuesday 30 April
At WBS, we’re proud that our profits stay right here in the Wairarapa community. Through the WBS Charitable Trust, we support all sorts of groups and initiatives with grants.
Supporting the voices of our community
Among the successful applicants in the WBS Charitable Trust’s October funding round was Arrow FM, who’d applied for a grant to buy wireless microphone and recording systems.
Celebrating national cricket glory
We couldn’t have been prouder of the St Matthew’s Collegiate First XI cricket team following their win in the 2023 NZC Venus Cup Nationals in December
Fifteen minutes of fame for our CE, John Healy
They say that everyone has 15 minutes of fame. This past weekend it was our CE John’s turn, where he featured in an article in the Sunday Stars Times (and Stuff) about how CEOs spend their summer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Student investor set for the future with WBS
From humble beginnings come great things. This resonated in a chat with Emma Kitchingman, a local student and savvy student investor with WBS.
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.
Community benefits from April grant funding round success
The April community funding round saw a large number of diverse applications from across Wairarapa. We are thrilled to share some more worthy local recipients of that round. Our second (and last) community funding round of the year opens next month, October 2023.