The trust was under additional pressure because of growth in the Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes district and the complexity of work social services agencies were facing, and a 50% jump in grants awarded within two years had set a "new normal" for the trust, Mrs Finlay said. It increased funding and gave out $8.5million in 2018-19, and in 2019-20 would give out $9.1 million, Mrs Finlay said. Many of those agencies were now turning to the trust for increased funding to meet those costs, Mrs Finlay said. The trust had therefore this financial year given its first ever grant to the air rescue trust, of $200,000, towards the new training requirements. Mrs Finlay said trust representatives had started "a programme" of talking to government representatives about the impact government actions had on the trust.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 12, 2019 16:30 UTC