About | Mt Aspiring College (MAC) Foundation

ABOUT MAC FOUNDATION

A charitable trust, MAC Foundation plays a vital role in supporting the Mount Aspiring College by ensuring long-term financial security, supporting exceptional education for all, and managing the prudent investment of financial support and donations.

The MAC Foundation story

In 1993, Mount Aspiring College had experienced many years of lower-than-expected student enrolments. The impact of faltering global markets following the 1987 stock market crash caused many people to leave New Zealand’s regional towns for larger urban centres. Schools around Otago were not immune and potential resource relocations from the Ministry of Education loomed. In an effort to boost the roll and save the school, the Mount Aspiring College Board came up with the unique idea to create a hostel programme, inviting students to experience MAC’s education and outdoor opportunities in Wānaka. The first intake of students was hosted in buildings on Little Street. It soon became apparent the programme would stay. And so, MAC Foundation was formed as a separate entity from Mount Aspiring College (and, therefore, the Ministry of Education) to purchase land and develop a dedicated property for the Hostel programme.

Thanks to the generosity of the Wānaka community and support from the Queenstown Lakes District Council, a parcel of land adjacent to the school was purchased and the hostel was built. The Hostel programme soon became highly sought-after and it wasn’t long before there was a waiting list to join (and still is to this day). Today, MAC Foundation still owns the hostel building and the land on which it sits, and provides funding to the school to operate the hostel. Mount Aspiring College manages all other aspects of the hostel programme.MAC Foundation had succeeded in its vision to support Mount Aspiring College by establishing a profitable income stream for the school while providing a way to enhance the school’s reputation and the experience of its students. Since then, MAC Foundation has continued to demonstrate innovative thinking and astute investment planning in order to support the college.

Today, MAC Foundation undertakes a range of initiatives to support the delivery of an outstanding education for all students at Mount Aspiring College, fostering an inclusive environment where every learner can thrive. See our impact.

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2024 & beyond…

With the recent redevelopment of Mount Aspiring College, MAC Foundation has been reinvigorated and has embraced a larger goal of building a significant $5 million endowment fund to secure the continued success of the school. Working closely with the Principal and the Board of Trustees, we intend to provide MAC with extra funding to ensure a world-class education for all our students. Our goal is to establish a range of funding initiatives which will enable MAC to drive high academic, sporting, and arts achievement, assists students who are experiencing financial hardship to fully participate in educational and extra-curricular opportunities as well as supporting the wellbeing of our school community.

MAC Foundation governance

MAC Foundation’s overall objective is to ensure the long-term financial security of the school through astute management of investments, fundraising and the management of the endowment fund. MAC Foundation is governed by a six-person Board of Trustees who are all part of the school or Wānaka community.

Matt Williams

Chair

As chair of MAC Foundation, Matt provides the skills and experience needed as the foundation as it expands its projects, investments and funding initiatives. Matt's expertise spans property compliance, governance, financial management, and charitable trust compliance, alongside his role as Director and Senior Structural Engineer at Batchelar McDougall Consulting in Wānaka. With the exception of a 12-year stint away from Wānaka to attend uni and explore destinations around New Zealand and the globe, Matt is a born and bred Wānaka local. He attended Mount Aspiring College and will soon be sending his own children to the school. He is deeply invested in the school's future. On MAC Foundation's goals, Matt has a desire to continue the legacy that once benefitted him as a MAC student. He believes a strong community needs a strong school, and the work of the MAC Foundation aligns with this vision. Matt is motivated to grow the impact that Mount Aspiring College has on the community and build an even brighter future.

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Andrew Edwards

Deputy Chair

Andrew is an experienced company director and business owner who brings extensive experience in banking, business, investment and governance to his role as trustee and deputy chair of MAC Foundation. Andrew’s expertise in finance and leadership has become invaluable as MAC Foundation moves into a new phase of expansion. While Andrew divides his time between Wānaka and Auckland, he remains actively involved with farming and business interests in Central Otago. . Andrew’s personal interest in Mount Aspiring College stems from having his three sons attend the hostel programme between 2015 and 2020. This has given him insight into an experience that is unique to Mount Aspiring College. Andrew believes MAC Foundation has been an important contributor to the school’s success already and would like to see the Foundation’s visibility and impact amplified in the years ahead towards a brighter future for all students and the whole community.

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Nicola Jacobsen

Advisory Trustee

As the principal/tūmuaki of Mount Aspiring College, Nicola advocates for the school's interests and views within MAC Foundation. Nicola moved to Wānaka in 2021 to take on the role of principal at Mount Aspiring College and brought with her a clear vision for a high-performing school. Recognising the role MAC Foundation plays in this vision, Nicola works with trustees to develop the foundation’s initiatives that benefit both students and the wider Wānaka community. Nicola emphasises the crucial role MAC Foundation plays in supporting the college and its students by providing funding for special projects. She is committed to ensuring that the students of MAC have access to excellent educational opportunities and continues to work towards this goal.

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Nicola King

Trustee

Nicola King is a former head student of Mount Aspiring College, whose role as a MAC Foundation Trustee demonstrates an enduring commitment to the school and the Wānaka community. With a background in not-for-profit work, Nicola’s experience has been invaluable since joining MAC Foundation in 2021. Nicola’s knowledge of delivering long-term sustainability and positive impact for non-profits will be instrumental as MAC Foundation moves into its next growth phase. Nicola holds a Master of Sustainable Business and previous experience in marketing, design and creative thinking. Having called Wānaka home for most of her life, Nicola’s connection to Mount Aspiring College runs deep as a past student and head girl of the class of 2006. She supports the MAC Foundation's future goals while recognising the ground-breaking work of her predecessors. Nicola is committed to ensuring MAC Foundation continues to make a lasting impact on the students of Mount Aspiring College for generations to come.

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Lani Arnott

Trustee

As a lawyer at Wānaka Law, Lani brings a crucial legal perspective to MAC Foundation's governance decisions. Lani joined MAC Foundation as a trustee in 2021 and, since then, has contributed extensive legal, property investment, trust management, and governance expertise to the organisation's operations. Lani and her family moved from Queenstown to Wānaka in 2018, and their daughter now attends Mount Aspiring College. As a parent of a MAC student and working within a long-standing local law firm, Lani has firsthand experience of what makes the Wānaka community and the school so unique. Through her work with MAC Foundation, Lani hopes to elevate Mount Aspiring College into a world-class educational facility, one which will benefit students for generations to come.

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Our mission

For Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College to have the resources to empower every student to reach their ultimate potential. Our mission is ambitiously two-fold:

Highlights

1986

Wānaka Area School is split into Wānaka Primary School and Mount Aspiring College.

1987

Princess Anne opens Mount Aspiring College

1987-1993

Wanaka’s static population sees the school struggling to grow its roll and maintain sustainable levels for senior classes. The College is at risk of being shut and amalgamated with Cromwell College. From a ‘no silly idea’ meeting at the school, the idea of a school hostel programme begins to evolve.

1993

The school does not have the ability to use MoE funds to purchase land for the hostel, so MAC Foundation is formed to facilitate the purchase.

1994

The first hostel students arrive to participate in a senior year focusing on life skills and outdoor pursuits. The hostel programme makes news around the country.

1996

The Foundation works with QLDC to change zoning on reserve land near the school. MAC Foundation purchases land from Council to build the hostel. MAC Hostel opens

2005

MAC Foundation purchases land at 135 Plantation Road

2016-2023

This period sees MAC Foundation maintaining financial stability and exploring future viability

2023

Mount Aspiring College undergoes a major redevelopment that prompts the MAC Foundation relaunch and outreach to donors, business stakeholders, the local community and alumni.

Highlights

1986

Wānaka Area School is split into Wānaka Primary School and Mount Aspiring College.

1987

Princess Anne opens
Mount Aspiring College

1987-1993

1993

The school does not have the ability to use MoE funds to purchase land for the hostel, so MAC Foundation is formed to facilitate the purchase.

1994

The first hostel students arrive to participate in a senior year focusing on life skills and outdoor pursuits. The hostel programme makes news around the country.

1996

The Foundation works with QLDC to change zoning on reserve land near the school. MAC Foundation purchases land from Council to build the hostel.
MAC Hostel opens

2005

MAC Foundation purchases land at 135 Plantation Road

2016-2023

This period sees MAC Foundation maintaining financial stability and exploring future viability

2023

Mount Aspiring College undergoes a major redevelopment that prompts the MAC Foundation relaunch and outreach to donors, business stakeholders, the local community and alumni.

Our impact

Here are just a few of the ways MAC Foundation—with the help of generous donors and stakeholders—is making an impact for students at Mount Aspiring College.

Matt Williams

Chair

Andrew Edwards

Deputy Chair

Nicola Jacobsen

Advisory Trustee

Nicola King

Trustee

Lani Arnott

Trustee

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