A love of the outdoors sparks legacy gift

On a calm, sunny day in the Orongorongo Valley in 2013, an 800 year old Rata tree fell to the earth with an unceremonious thud. Behind it, a small yet symbolic bush hut stood proudly; ferns creeping up its concrete foundations and a hand-painted sign, ‘Taihoa 67’ hanging over the door.   

Over 50 years before, teacher Gwenda Martin had painstakingly laboured alongside her Onslow College students to build Taihoa from scratch, transporting its building materials from Seaview in a decommissioned WW2 army truck and pouring concrete foundations over the May school holidays.  

Gwenda also had a passion for creativity and had a knack for craft. To this day, many of her creations can be found scattered around the homes of old friends - the small jug and saucer she moulded from scratch, thumb imprints still visible; the teddy bear she spun and dyed wool for, old costumes from school productions and cotton reel toys. 

Gwenda was also involved in politics and campaigned for the causes close to her heart, including the discrepancy between superannuation for male and female teachers in the 1970’s. She loved the outdoors and inspired hundreds of her students through her passionate, hands-on teaching style.   In the last few years of Gwenda’s life, she thought about her will and leaving a gift to support things she was passionate about. Through a generous bequest, the Gwenda Martin Fund was established, dedicated to supporting the Paekākāriki area, the place she loved. Thanks to Gwenda’s vision, conservation activities in the Orongorongo Valley, including the preservation of Taihoa can continue to be funded. Like the Rata tree that went before, Gwenda’s legacy will continue to leave an indelible mark on the area, for generations to come.

See how your gift can give and grow, just like Gwenda Martins, by using our fund calculator >>>