When the Women's Impact Fund selected Waka Eastern Bay as their main grant recipient in 2025, the goal was simple: create more opportunities for local women to connect, build confidence, and enjoy new experiences together.
One year on, the impact is clear.
Established to help combat isolation by providing accessible community transport, Waka Eastern Bay has become a vital service connecting people across the wider Eastern Bay. With support from the Women's Impact Fund, the organisation has been able to provide a series of outings for women from Kawerau and Murupara, creating opportunities to get out, try new experiences, and spend time together.
So far, the funding has supported 12 group outings, including beach trips, visits to local garden centres, shopping excursions, and a memorable day at the Rotorua Gondola.
For many participants, the benefits have extended far beyond the destinations themselves.
"The women have been so appreciative," says the Waka Eastern Bay team. "They said they would never have been able to do these trips without this funding."
The outings have helped women build friendships, strengthen social connections, and enjoy experiences that may otherwise have been out of reach.
"The rewards have been outstanding for these women," says the team. "They've all come back smiling. They've had a laugh and a joke in the van on the way there and on the way back, and what they've got out of it has been immeasurable."
When Women's Impact Fund donors voted to support Waka Eastern Bay, they saw the potential for a project that would improve wellbeing by reducing isolation and creating opportunities for connection. It's encouraging to see that vision becoming reality.
Stories like this are a reminder that meaningful change doesn't always come from large-scale programmes. Sometimes it starts with a shared outing, a new friendship, or the confidence that comes from being part of a community.
We're grateful to the Waka Eastern Bay team for sharing their story and look forward to seeing the programme continue to grow.
Head to our YouTube channel to hear directly from Waka Eastern Bay about the difference this funding has made.
