We are proud locals. The Marlborough Sounds is where we choose to work, play, explore, relax, spend time with whānau, and also what sustains our work.
We stay connected with our communities through regular interaction with community representatives including the Picton Regional Forum, Pelorus Promotions, Picton Business Group, The Marlborough Cruise Think Tank, various Ratepayers’ Associations, and local Marlborough schools.
Our core company value of Mahi Tahi ensures that we take a partnership approach to issues and ideas, and we are committed to working together with our staff, customers, iwi, communities and customers.
At Port Marlborough, community partnerships are the bridge between our port and the people, industries, and environment that make Marlborough unique. Our Community Partnerships Report shares how those connections come to life, highlighting the charitable contributions we’ve made across our region and the stories of collaboration, innovation, care, and achievement that have grown from them. Our commitment is guided by our strategic pillars of People, Planet, Prosperity and Partnerships.
The Port Marlborough company values Hauora (valuing wellbeing), Kaitiakitanga (protecting the future), Mahi Tahi (working together), Pono (acting with integrity), and Kairangatira (delivering excellence) provide the foundation for every decision we make and ensure our community partnerships and sponsorships reflect both community aspirations and our long-term vision to be an environmentally restorative port, driving success for Marlborough.
In the 2025 financial year, our community investment totalled $240,000, made up of cash contributions, employee time, and in-kind support such as berthage, property eases, equipment, and services. These contributions represented 1.5% of the port’s earnings before interest, depreciation, and tax (EBIT), meeting the target in our Statement of Corporate Intent to reinvest at least 1% of EBIT into community initiatives. This demonstrates Port Marlborough’s commitment to sharing success with our region and delivering value beyond business activities.
Behind the figures are the stories that show the impact of Port Marlborough’s charitable contributions and how they support our region – from students gaining access to the Sounds, to volunteers restoring ecosystems, sports teams building connection, and industries sharing knowledge for the future. The stories that follow in this report demonstrate how Port Marlborough is deeply connected to its communities and proud to play a part in shaping Marlborough’s future.
View and Download our 2025 Community Partnerships Report Here.
The Port Marlborough Sounds Discovery Fund was established in 2018, aiming to foster stronger connections between Marlborough primary school students and the Marlborough Sounds.
The goal of the Sounds Discovery Fund was to assist in the facilitation of outdoor education, to aid understanding of our ecosystems and heritage, to encourage a sense of kaitiakitanga and care for this precious area, and to build skills in relevant areas like water safety and water sports, for the safe enjoyment of boating and adventuring in our backyard paradise.
Since 2018, the Sounds Discovery Fund has supported thousands of Marlborough school students on various trips throughout the Sounds. These have included sailing lessons with the Queen Charlotte Yacht Club, scientific voyages of exploration with Otago University’s Richard de Hamel, camps at Mistletoe Bay, sponsorship of the Tuia 250 schools’ day, voyages of discovery throughout the Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds on vessels such as Tutanekai, Beachcomber and Steadfast, and has supported numerous water-safety training for tamariki throughout Marlborough.
If your primary school would like to apply for funding for the 2025/2026 Port Marlborough Sounds Discovery Fund, which is allocated at our discretion for any Marlborough Sounds based educational experience taking place from July 2025 – June 2026 please let us know by emailing us at [email protected]
