Proposed Foxton Beach Endowment Fund Policy
Horowhenua District Council is asking for feedback on its proposed Foxton Beach Endowment Fund Policy. This is your chance to have a say on how this fund is best used for the benefit of the Foxton Beach community.
The Foxton Beach Endowment Fund, previously known as the Foxton Beach Freeholding Account, is money set aside from the sale of and lease payments on endowment land. It comes from managing the endowment assets on behalf of the Foxton Beach community which has resulted in all returns being reinvested locally.
A new policy is being proposed to guide how this fund is used moving forward, and Councill wants your feedback before it is adopted.
Background
The Foxton Beach Endowment Fund is a legacy account managed by Horowhenua District Council to benefit the Foxton Beach community, with deep historical ties to land ownership, endowment, and governance. From 1819, iwi co-existed peacefully until Crown land acquisitions in the 1850s to 60s disrupted this, particularly affecting Papangaio J Block owners.
The Foxton Harbour Board was established in 1876, acquiring significant land later vested under the 1956 Reserves and Other Lands Disposal (ROLD) Act. After the board’s abolition in 1955, the land was passed to Manawatu County Council, and the 1965 ROLD Act extinguished Māori rights to the land. Legislative changes in 1968 enabled freeholding of leasehold land.
Horowhenua District Council inherited the land in the 1989 local government reforms. Income from land sales is ring-fenced under the ROLD Act to support Foxton Beach community projects, including infrastructure upgrades and cultural facilities.
The fund, formerly the Foxton Beach Freeholding Account, holds all revenue from lease payments and sales, reinvesting millions into the community. In 2022, after allocation of funds, the fund dropped below its $5 million minimum, prompting a policy review.
The last policy was adopted in 2009. Since mid-2023, a working group of elected and board members and a representative on behalf of the original land owners of Papangaio J Block have collaboratively developed a draft policy reflecting shared values and history, now ready for community consultation.
Why a new policy?
- The current policy is from 2009, and nearly 16 years later, it is time for a review.
- In 2022, the fund dropped below its $5 million cap as outlined in the policy, prompting a need to set clear financial rules.
- Council and Te Awahou Foxton Community Board committed to a fully co-designed review, directly partnering with a representative on behalf of the original land owners of Papangaio J Block.
- The modernised new policy focuses on sustainability and guided decisions around how and when to allocate funds and investments.
- It’s also an opportunity to define governance clarity, including decision‑making roles, spending approvals, and key values of the fund.
- Ultimately, the goal is a future-focused policy, aligning with Te Awahou Foxton Community Board and Council priorities while ensuring sustainable and equitable benefits for the Foxton Beach community.
What's changed?
A new name - The policy is now called the Foxton Beach Endowment Fund Policy, reflecting its purpose more clearly.
A stronger vision - The focus is on long-term sustainability, intergenerational wellbeing, and community–hapū partnership.
Clear values - All funding allocation decisions will be guided by four values:
Heritage & Culture
Recreation & Conservation
Economic Development with Intergenerational Integrity
Wellbeing & Community
Wider use of funds - While the previous policy limited funding to 50% per project, there were instances where 100% funding was granted following case-by-case consideration. The updated policy now allows projects to receive up to 100% funding, formalising this approach.
Risk Management - Within six months after a Local Government Election and the appointment of a new Board, the Council and Board will adopt a Risk Appetite Statement.
Financial Sustainability - Inclusion of an assessment at the start of each financial year to determine the fund’s financial capacity to support grant distribution. This assessment will guide whether a contestable funding round will proceed for that year.
Greater fund protection - While the $5 million cap has been removed, the policy allows Council and the Board to pause grants to prioritise growth or have a moratorium to safeguard the fund’s longevity and to maximise its future earning potential.
Structured funding process - Where there is deemed to be sufficient funds, there will be two funding rounds per year. A working group with equal representation of the Community Board and descendants of Papangaio J Block will assess applications before Te Awahou Foxton Community Board puts recommendations to Council. This policy does not change Council’s ability to receive grants from the fund for capital projects, as has happened previously.
Stronger community voice - A working group of the Board and representatives of descendants of Papangaio J Block.
Land management - Identification of future work on a dedicated Property Utilisation Strategy is proposed to ensure endowment lands are managed in ways that reflect community values and protect heritage sites.
Who manages the fund?
Horowhenua District Council is the legal custodian of the Foxton Beach Endowment Land and Fund. Since 1989, it has been responsible for managing the fund for the benefit of the Foxton Beach community.
Under the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Act [ROLD] (1956, with amendments in 1965 and 1968), Council must:
Administer the fund and approve land sales or other transactions.
Ensure spending aligns with the Act for services and amenities that benefit the Foxton Beach community.
Ring-fence sale proceeds for reinvestment in the local community.
Te Awahou Foxton Community Board, with input from the working group, provides recommendations to Council for final decision-making. The outcome is then communicated back to the Board and shared with the community.
Financials
As of 30 April 2025, the Foxton Beach Endowment Fund has a year-to-date balance of $5.195 million. This figure does not include the value of land assets. The fund’s balance and financial statements are presented at every Te Awahou Foxton Community Board meeting.
You can read the Proposed Foxton Beach Endowment Fund Policy here.
Kōrero Mai | Have Your SayShare your thoughts on the proposed Foxton Beach Endowment Fund Policy:
Feedback closes at 4pm on Monday 28 July. | ||||
Privacy Statement
All feedback is made publicly available on our website and at Council service centres. Your personal details (including name and contact details) will be provided in their entirety to Elected Members and made available to the public at our office and on our website, unless it is requested that this information be kept private. We collect your contact information so we can keep you up to date with the proposal.
For more information, see our privacy statement on www.horowhenua.govt.nz/PrivacyStatement
Who's Listening
-
Phone 06 366 0999 Email recordsprocessing@horowhenua.govt.nz