WISE Charitable Trust
WISE Charitable Trust is a 2002-founded New Zealand non-profit delivering home insulation, Healthy Homes assessments, landcare, cleaning, and The Junction reuse shop across Taranaki and Whanganui, funded by government grants and corporate partners to create employment and reduce housing-related hardship.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersWaitara, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WISE Charitable Trust does
WISE Charitable Trust (Waitara Initiatives Supporting Employment Trust) is a non-profit charitable trust incorporated in 2002 and headquartered at 97 Mould Street, Waitara, Taranaki, New Zealand. It delivers a coordinated portfolio of housing, environmental, and employment services across the Taranaki and Whanganui regions, including home insulation (ceiling, wall, underfloor) with ground vapor barrier installation, the EECA Warmer Kiwi Homes subsidy programme (covering 50–90% of insulation cost for eligible low-income households), Healthy Homes assessments in both regions, certified Home Performance Advisor (HPA) evaluations, the WHIPIT remediation team, the Curtain Bank, landcare and streamside planting, commercial and residential cleaning, the Heat Kits into Schools educational programme, and The Junction Reuse Shop, a zero-waste retail hub that diverts reusable materials from landfill.
The organisation is funded primarily through government grants and corporate partnerships (EECA, Te Whatu Ora, TET, MBIE, NPDC, TODD Energy, Power Co, OMV, TOI Foundation), supplemented by donations and revenue from commercial cleaning contracts (Owae Marae, Worley Parsons, OMV) and The Junction's retail operation. Services are accessed through a healthcare-provider referral network (hospitals, GPs, midwives, Plunket), self-referrals, an online application portal, and direct sales for commercial work. The trust operates with approximately 11 employees under a leadership team led by General Manager Petunia Twala and a board chaired by Damon Jacobsen, and pursues a triple-bottom-line mission combining employment creation for disadvantaged individuals, community support, and environmental action.
WISE Charitable Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WISE Charitable Trust
- Legal name
- WISE Charitable Trust
- Website
- https://wise.org.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- WISE Charitable Trust is a 2002-founded New Zealand non-profit delivering home insulation, Healthy Homes assessments, landcare, cleaning, and The Junction reuse shop across Taranaki and Whanganui, funded by government grants and corporate partners to create employment and reduce housing-related hardship.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WISE Charitable Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Housing and Social Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Community Housing Services (62422), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Housing Rehabilitation, Weatherization & Home Repair Grant/Loan Programs (FSALAKAJ), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
Keywords
Where WISE Charitable Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waitara
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices3 records
Markets served
WISE Charitable Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Grants and Subsidies: Primary revenue from government funding including EECA Warmer Kiwi Homes insulation subsidies, Healthy Homes Initiative funding from Te Whatu Ora and TET, Home Performance Advisor programme funding from TODD Energy, Power Co, and MBIE.
- Donations: Charitable donations from individuals and organisations supporting WISE's mission. Donations can be made via bank transfer or online forms. Earmarked allocations available for specific initiatives.
- Commercial Cleaning Services: Commercial cleaning services provided to businesses including Owae Marae, Worley Parsons, and OMV. Generates revenue while providing employment opportunities.
- Residential Services: New build insulation services, ground vapor barrier installation, and residential cleaning services offered at market rates for non-subsidised work.
- The Junction Reuse Shop: Community retail facility reselling donated goods, diverting materials from landfill. Operates as zero waste hub with recycling options.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Free insulation for eligible homeowners |
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Free Healthy Homes services for eligible Whanganui families |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Commercial cleaning services |
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Free curtains for eligible Taranaki households |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
WISE Charitable Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WISE Charitable Trust delivers home insulation installation (ceiling, wall, underfloor, and ground vapor barrier), Healthy Homes assessments and remediation items, commercial and residential cleaning, and landcare services in Taranaki and Whanganui. It also operates The Junction zero-waste reuse shop and the Curtain Bank programme, while running the Heat Kits into Schools educational initiative. The organisation is funded primarily through government grants, corporate partnerships, and community donations, enabling free or subsidised services for eligible low-income households.
Product overview
WISE Charitable Trust operates as a multi-service charitable organization offering a coordinated portfolio of home improvement and community support services primarily focused on the Taranaki and Whanganui regions of New Zealand. The core service offerings center on home insulation (ceiling, wall, underfloor, and ground vapor barriers) supported by the EECA Warmer Kiwi Homes Subsidy program, which can make insulation free for eligible households. Complementary health-focused services include Healthy Homes assessments (Taranaki and Whanganui), Home Performance Advisors providing certified evaluations, and the WHIPIT installation team for remediation work. Additional services include commercial and residential cleaning, landcare/garden maintenance, and the Curtain Bank providing free thermal curtains. The organization also operates The Junction Reuse Shop as a zero waste hub and runs educational programs like Heat Kits into Schools. These products and services are integrated through a shared mission of creating employment opportunities while reducing poverty and improving housing health outcomes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Home / Rental Insulation Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Heat Kits into Schools programme reached 3 schools, 9 classrooms, approximately 270 students with 1,350 educational resources produced
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use WISE Charitable Trust
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
WISE Charitable Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
WISE Charitable Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority)coreEECA funds the Warmer Kiwi Homes insulation programme, covering 50-90% of insulation costs for eligible homeowners. WISE is an accredited provider delivering insulation installation services under this government initiative.
- Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand)coreTe Whatu Ora funds the Healthy Homes Initiative, enabling WISE to provide free home assessments and interventions for eligible families in Taranaki and Whanganui.
- Health New ZealandcoreHealth New Zealand co-supports the Heat Kits into Schools initiative alongside Powerco, providing healthy homes education to tamariki in Taranaki schools.
- Sustainable TaranakiminorPartner organisation supporting sustainability initiatives in the Taranaki region.
- Taranaki Regional CouncilminorTaranaki Regional Council Environmental Awards recognised WISE with Leadership in Climate Action Award for The Junction Zero Waste Hub.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
WISE Charitable Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- WasteMINZ: National industry body for waste reduction and resource recovery. Comparable to The Junction's zero waste mission at the industry-policy level, though WasteMINZ does not directly operate reuse shops.
Direct peers
- Habitat for Humanity New Zealand: Nonprofit building and renovating affordable housing for low-income families across NZ. Comparable to WISE in affordable housing delivery and community-employment pathways, though more focused on new build than retrofit.
- Community Energy Action: Christchurch-based charity providing insulation, clean heating, and healthy homes services to low-income households in Canterbury. Comparable as an accredited EECA Warmer Kiwi Homes provider with a similar community-driven model.
- Kaibosh Food Rescue: Wellington-region food rescue charity diverting surplus food from landfill. Comparable to WISE's The Junction as a regional reuse/divert-from-landfill operation with a community-employment social enterprise model.
- LinkPeople (formerly LifeWise): Wellington-based community organisation providing social services including housing support. Comparable to WISE in delivering wraparound social services alongside housing-related assistance.
- Sustainability Trust: Wellington-based charitable trust delivering home insulation, warm and healthy homes services, and energy efficiency retrofits across the lower North Island. Highly comparable to WISE in mission, accreditation model, and household-focused service design.
Emerging players
- Asthma New Zealand: National charity focused on respiratory health, including housing-related triggers. Comparable to WISE on the health-outcome side of the Healthy Homes Mission, though delivery is via education rather than home retrofit.
- Curtain Bank (Salvation Army NZ): National charity providing free curtains to low-income households. Comparable to WISE's Curtain Bank offering, though delivered through a national logistics network rather than a regional charity model.
Others
- Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand: National health agency funding the Healthy Homes Initiative. Comparable as the principal health-system counterpart to WISE's housing-health programmes and a core contracting partner.
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA): NZ government agency that funds the Warmer Kiwi Homes subsidy and accredits providers like WISE. Comparable as the central funding and standards body that shapes WISE's addressable insulation market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WISE Charitable Trust social profiles
Digital presenceWISE Charitable Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WISE Charitable Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
WISE Charitable Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WISE Charitable Trust M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WISE Charitable Trust
What does WISE Charitable Trust do?
WISE Charitable Trust delivers home insulation installation (ceiling, wall, underfloor, and ground vapor barrier), Healthy Homes assessments and remediation items, commercial and residential cleaning, and landcare services in Taranaki and Whanganui. It also operates The Junction zero-waste reuse shop and the Curtain Bank programme, while running the Heat Kits into Schools educational initiative. The organisation is funded primarily through government grants, corporate partnerships, and community donations, enabling free or subsidised services for eligible low-income households.
Is WISE Charitable Trust a public or private company?
WISE Charitable Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was WISE Charitable Trust founded?
WISE Charitable Trust was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is WISE Charitable Trust based?
WISE Charitable Trust is headquartered in Waitara, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does WISE Charitable Trust make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Government Grants and Subsidies are the primary driver. The others are donations, commercial Cleaning Services, residential Services and the Junction Reuse Shop.
Who are WISE Charitable Trust's main competitors?
WasteMINZ is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Habitat for Humanity New Zealand, Community Energy Action, Kaibosh Food Rescue, LinkPeople (formerly LifeWise) and Sustainability Trust. Emerging players are Asthma New Zealand and Curtain Bank (Salvation Army NZ). Others are Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
Does WISE Charitable Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for WISE Charitable Trust.
What industry is WISE Charitable Trust in?
WISE Charitable Trust's product category is Community Housing and Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAC, Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts), with a secondary code of BPAGACAC, Community Health, Prevention & Health Education. Its NAICS code is 8132 and its SIC code is 8300.