Entries are now being sought from rural community groups across New Zealand for the Rabo Community Hub Competition. Running for the first time in 2025, the competition provides entrants with a chance to win $5k to go towards the improvement of their rural community hall, clubrooms or marae. Twenty winners will be selected from across the country who will each receive $5k of funding to help upgrade their rural community hub.
Competition entries opened on Saturday 1 March and can now be made via the Rabobank website. Entries close at 11.59pm on Monday 31 March 2025 and the competition winners will be announced in early April.
Rabobank New Zealand General Manager for Country Banking, Bruce Weir, said rural community halls, clubrooms and marae were often a key meeting place for farming communities.
“Our client council network has identified that community halls, clubrooms and marae are a vital part of rural communities as they provide a suitable location for the local community to come together. These types of facilities require ongoing investment to improve their usability, so we decided to launch this competition with the aim of upgrading the quality of 20 different rural community hubs across New Zealand,” he said.
“The prize money for this competition will be drawn from the Rabo Community Fund – a fund set up in 2021 and backed by an annual contribution from the Rabobank Group – and ultimately the goal is to help build the vibrancy and resilience of rural New Zealand.”
Mr Weir said the competition prizemoney could be used for any work that improves the interior or exterior of the nominated hall, clubrooms or marae.
“For example, the funds could go towards installing a heat pump or floor insulation, double glazing for the windows, or even a new dishwasher or oven for the kitchen. Essentially, the prize money can be used on anything that upgrades the premises and makes it a more attractive place for the local community to spend time,” he said.
“As part of the competition entry form, entrants will need to detail how the building is currently used, what they would do with the funds, and how the proposed improvements would help increase the facility’s usage.”
Mr Weir said the bank, in conjunction with members of its client council network, would select the competition winners in early April.
“Given the $100k prize pool up for grabs, we’re expecting a large number of entries from right around New Zealand, and I’m sure there’ll be some robust debate on which hubs are selected as winners,” he said.