Manukau Trust Named As Education Trust Of The Year

2 November, 2004

Manukau Trust Named As Education Trust Of The Year

The City of Manukau Education Trust (COMET) has been named as the Education Trust of the Year by the New Zealand Trustees Association.

The award was announced at a Trust Dinner hosted by the New Zealand Trustees Association last week in Auckland. COMET was one of eleven trusts to be honoured at the event.

“We are delighted that our work in providing leadership and education co-ordination in Manukau has been recognised in this way,” says COMET’s Chief Executive Bernardine Vester. “The award recognises the excellent trusteeship provided by our trustees, and the effort that we have put into good management, and sound accountability processes.”

The City of Manukau Education Trust was nominated by Sir Barry Curtis and Gwen Bull. COMET’s key programmes include the development of school-business relationships; a Youth Transitions Service for school-leavers that now operates out of six schools and works with over 200 youth; the development of two Manukau Family Literacy Programmes pilots in partnerships with tertiary, school, and early childhood providers. The Principal For A Day event, in which over 60 business and community leaders participated, is a highly successful initiative from the trust. COMET has also managed to completion a Digital Opportunities project for community organisations in Otara.

Manukau City Council established COMET in October 1999 as an independent charitable trust. It is contracted to council to provide leadership, advocacy, and co-ordination services to improve education and employment outcomes for Manukau people.

“COMET does not directly provide education courses,” says Bernardine Vester, “ but builds collaborations and partnerships that improve educational outcomes. We work closely with government agencies, council, and education providers to get the best value out of resources in the city.”

Trusts to receive awards for 2004 were:

Highly Commended: Whangarei One Stop Trust Tongariro Education Trust Franklin Library Trust Tauranga Energy Consumers Trust Charitable Trust of the Year: MedCan Dunedin Trust Residential Trust of the Year: Lutheran Trust, Palmerston North Education Trust of the Year: City of Manukau Education Trust Heritage Trust of the Year: Tasman Bays Trust Offshore Trust of the Year: Christian Leaders Training College of Papua, New Guinea CommunityTrust of the Year Taranaki Savings Bank Trust NZ Trust of the Year Life Light Trust (Rescue Helicopter Service) Trustee of the Year James Mason QSO

ENDS

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