General Email: trust@matipo.org.nz            Address 69 Matipo St, Castlecliff, Whanganui 4501

Phone: general 021 0256 7070  Carlos 0221205811   Damien 0226820131   Francis 0284645664

Reg'd Charity CC53821 (2016)      Give-a-Little (donations)     Facebook    

Bank: ANZ "Matipo Community Development Charitible" 06-0793-0380452-00

The Trust is not currently (2026) required to be registered for GST

Vision: Supporting each other through Kotahitanga

Mission: Empowering Tangata through education and employment to achieve social change

Matipo Community Development Charitable Trust Values and Beliefs

§ We have an obligation to provide better options for our mokopuna

§ We support rangatahi in a loving, caring, supportive way in reaching their goals and aspirations

§ We believe health and wellbeing benefits Whānau

§ That community-led models of education results in successful outcomes for whanau

§ A busy and vibrant community centre enriches and connects the community

§ Business and social enterprise activities provide the community with skills and employment

§ Connection to our culture and heritage enriches us and inspires health and wellbeing

§ Tikanga Māori values and knowledge supports the health and wellbeing of whānau

We believe in and incorporate Tikanga Māori values of:

§ Whanaungatanga – a sense of belonging

§ Kotahitanga – oneness

§ Mohiotanga – sharing information

§ Maramatanga – understanding the relevance in learning

§ Wairua – our spiritual wellbeing

§ Whakapapa – our genealogy

§ Kaitiakitanga – to guard/guardianship of tikanga and natural resources

§ Manakitanga – to extend aroha

§ Rangatiratanga – self-governance

§ Mauri – our uniqueness

§ Tuakana/Teina – the relationship between older and younger people

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi underpins our organisation. Through operating in the spirit of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, our intention is to foster mutual regard and understanding as we work alongside Maori, thereby ensuring Maori have opportunities to participate fully in all levels and aspects of our organisation.

Tupua Te Kawa

KO TE AWA TE MĀTĀPUNA O TE ORA

The River is the source of spiritual and physical sustenance.

E RERE KAU MAI TE AWA NUI MAI I TE KAHUI MAUNGA KI TANGAROA

The great River flows from the mountains to the sea.

E RERE KAU MAI TE AWA NUI MAI I TE KAHUI MAUNGA KI TANGAROA

The great River flows from the mountains to the sea.

KO AU TE AWA, KO TE AWA KO AU

I am the River and the River is me.

NGĀ MANGA ITI, NGĀ MANGA NUI E HONOHONO KAU ANA, KA TUPU HEI AWA TUPUA

The small and large streams that flow into one another form one River.

https://www.ngatangatatiaki.co.nz/our-story/tupua-te-kawa/

The trust is named for the street we are based in which is named for Matipo (also spelled māpou or māpau)

Matipo is the common name for a diversity of types of small hardy trees...

• Myrsine australis, or Red Matipo a hardy evergreen shrub or small tree native to New Zealand. It is widely recognized for its bright red stems and wavy, yellow-green leaves.

• Weeping Matipo (Myrsine divaricata): A smaller shrub with tangled, drooping branches found in damp or subalpine areas.

• Black Matipo: A common alternative name for kōhūhū (Pittosporum tenuifolium), which features dark or blackish stems rather than red stems.

We think that diversity makes Matipo a remarkably appropriate name for the diversity of folk that make up the Matipo Community Development Charitible Trust 

MCDCT was founded in 2013 by community leaders who saw an urgent need for change. They recognised the need for community-driven initiatives amongst families’ traditionally non-engaged, living in isolation and defined by poor health, low educational achievement and high unemployment.

Craig Rippon gathered likeminded people to redefine the community. Hard work and a passion to succeed overcame the initial lack of funding and resources.

Whanganui District Council was asked for vacant land to grow healthy kai for local families and Housing NZ provided the education centre / community hub facility. The leaders joined Castlecliff Neighbourhood Watch, working with police to reduce the local crime rate. Gradually, steady progress and tangible results garnered more and more support.

MCDCT is a volunteer organisation that aims to initiate social change through education and employment; to increase opportunities, promoting community-led initiatives that empower individuals to become self-reliant. Founder Craig Rippon worked hard to establish an entity that would benefit the community he had embraced but would also integrate with the wider community.

Since inception, MCDCT has relied on dedicated volunteers to change a vision into reality; initially transforming a swampy wasteland into a productive Community Garden, then creating the community education facility. Several generations participate in education programmes, while productive gardens and fruit trees, tended by our students and volunteers, feed the community.

Committed to building relationships, increasing social engagement, facilitating better education and promoting self-worth, the goal is to provide on-going community initiatives allowing our young people to make better decisions and realise their potential.