Our history

In October 2019, as part of a joint venture with Southern Cross Hospitals, CLT announced investment in a new surgical hospital to be located in Queenstown.

For the first time in CLT's history, the Trust was oversubscribed, seeing a 60% increase in both the number of grants (from 95 to 152) given out and the level of funds required to support the community. With the extreme growth and changes in the population demographic, the needs of the community had changed.

On 1 December 2017 Linda Robertson and Michael Sidey, were the first two of three appointed trustees to commence their roles under the new governance structure vote in the November 2016 referendum.

CLT’s largest ever grant of $11.15 million over five years was granted to link Central Otago’s Great Rides to create 536km of trail network, linking the four existing rides, the Queenstown Trail, the Otago Central Rail Trail, the Roxburgh Gorge Trail, and the Clutha Gold Trail, creating one the of the largest continuous trail networks in the world.

The Swim School programme commenced in 2013 as a joint initiative between Central Lakes Trust, Sport Otago, CODC, QLDC and the schools in the Central Lakes Trust region.

CLT's new building, which still serves as a property investment in our current investment portfolio, located at 190 Waenga Drive, Cromwell was officially opened on 21 November 2011 by the Trust’s first two chairs, Peter Mead and Duncan Butcher.

A decade in operation, Central Lakes Trust had granted over $50 million in its 10 years.

The largest grant approved by Central Lakes Trust in 2009 was $1 million towards the Alexandra Community House.

In March 2008, trustees approved a grant of $80,000 to be distributed amongst the community arts councils in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes Districts for the purpose of promoting arts at a local level.

In 2007 the inaugural Central Lakes Trust Scholarship programme commenced.

Central Otago Living Options Charitable Trust has been operating since 2001, providing individualised support and residential services for people with disabilities in Central Otago.

Since 2004, CLT have regularly supported Wanaka Search and Rescue with funding for equipment and training so this vital service can continue to help the lost, missing and injured in our rivers, hills and mountains.

We provided funding that enabled Volunteer South, an organisation connecting volunteers with community groups, to significantly expand its operations and outreach.

On 7 February 2001 the Trust was incorporated as a charitable trust under the Charitable Trusts Act of 1957.

The OCEPT Deed determined that the funds from the sale of the lines/retail and the generation businesses had to be used for charitable purpose. The OCEPT’s board proposed that Central Lakes Charitable Trust be created so that each year charitable projects throughout Central Lakes would be supported; to enhance the community and the lives of the people within.

The Otago Central Electric Power Board pioneered electricity supply, building hydro-power stations from 1924. Restructuring mandated incorporation as Central Electric Limited in 1993. After separating generation from lines in 1999, the company sold its lines business, renaming itself Pioneer Generation Limited under the Otago Central Electric Power Trust.