ABOUT SOUTHERN TRUST
Funding the Community
The Southern Trust works on behalf of the community in two important ways. We play an administrative role both in the generation of revenue from gaming machines and the returning of these revenues to local communities in meaningful ways.
Community Grants
The Southern Trust is required under the terms and conditions of our license issued by the Department of Internal Affairs to return at least 37.12% of gaming machine proceeds to the community. We strive to return as much as possible to communities through grants. We provide funding to amateur sport, education, community purposes, welfare organizations and arts and culture. The majority of families within New Zealand have received benefit, either directly or indirectly, from gaming machine proceeds through grants, which support a huge diversity of organizations and communities.
Venue Operators
We would not be able to achieve the results we have over the last few years without the venue operators. These are the people who choose to operate gaming machines as a tool to raise funds to be distributed within their local communities. Venue operators are an integral part of what we do. They must look after the administration associated with the conduct of gaming on their premises and meet various legislative requirements. In return for performing these duties site operators are paid an amount that is approved by the Department of Internal Affairs. Our venue operators make grant application forms available for the local community to access, but they are not able to make recommendations on what applications are approved or declined. Any applicant with queries or who requires information should contact the Southern Trust directly.