Back to page

Save Japan Kauri Education Trust! Help Us Keep the Heartbeat of the Japanese Community Alive

  • Less than two weeks left in our crowdfunding campaign!

      2 September 2025
    Main image

    This journey began with the closure of our cherished our Japanese children's library—a space that once provided comfort, learning, and a sense of connection. For our small community, fundraising is never an easy task. Support is often inconsistent, and maintaining cultural programmes requires a long-term commitment.

    Thanks to your generosity, we have made significant progress. Every donation, message, and share has helped us gain momentum, and we are deeply grateful for your support.

    As part of this effort, we are hosting a fundraising screening of Demon Slayer at Takapuna Beachside Cinemas, which has generously offered their support. This event is more than just a movie—it is a celebration of culture and community.

    📅 Sunday, 14 September 2025, 12:30 PM

    🎬 Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc (R13)

    👘 Cosplay welcome – Best Dresser prizes!

    🎟️ Tickets available here

    https://events.humanitix.com/jket-fundraiser-screening-demon-slayer-ages-13

    Let’s keep the flame of connection alive—together.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • 🌭 Growing Together Through Community Support – Sausage Sizzle Report

      8 July 2025
    Main image

    Thank you for your generous support during our recent fundraising Sausage Sizzle event at Bunnings Warehouse Constellation. We are pleased to share that the event was a great success!

    Thanks to the efforts of volunteers from various generations and backgrounds, we raised a total of $436.38, including donations. These funds will help support our upcoming cultural outreach and educational sessions and will contribute to the reopening of our Japanese library service, which provides families and children with access to heritage-language books and meaningful community learning experiences.

    We were particularly encouraged to see new volunteers joining us—individuals from different backgrounds than those who have previously participated in JKET activities. Their involvement demonstrates that our mission continues to reach wider circles, building connections across communities and generations.

    Your contribution makes all of this possible. Thank you once again for being part of our journey!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Thank You for Your Support—Continuing Our Cultural Efforts

      15 June 2025
    Main image

    Due to financial constraints, the JKET Japanese Children's Library has temporarily closed. However, thanks to your generous support, we remain dedicated to creating a space where Japanese families can connect, integrate into the community, and raise their children while preserving their cultural heritage.

    The activities during Term 2 served as a trial period, and with your help, we are excited to continue Japanese Storytime sessions in Term 3! This continuation wouldn’t be possible without the encouragement and contributions from supporters like you.

    We are fortunate to have dedicated volunteers and welcome not only Japanese speakers but also members of the wider community. These sessions create an environment where families can experience being part of a multicultural society, fostering connections and deeper mutual understanding among people from diverse backgrounds.

    Your support ensures the continuation of these programs, keeping cultural initiatives alive and accessible. Thank you for believing in our vision!

    📍 Japanese Storytime Sessions

    🗓 Every Monday, 10:00–10:30 (during school term)

    📍 Albany Village Library (30 Kell Drive, Auckland 0632)

    🎟 Free entry / No booking required / Everyone welcome!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • A Milestone for Our Community: Grant Approval Secured!

      1 June 2025
    Main image

    We are pleased to announce that our application for the 2024/2025 Upper Harbour Local Grants Round Two has been approved, providing funding support for the operation of our Japanese Heritage Centre classrooms.

    This grant enables us to secure classroom spaces, ensuring the continuation of our educational programs despite the loss of our previous library facility. Classes will be held at the following community venues:

    📍 Class Locations

    📅 Weekday Class: Meadowood Community House (Meadowood)

    📅 Saturday Class: Hearts of the Bays (Browns Bay)

    📅 Under 5 class: Taitakamriki Hall - Bartley Room (Takapuna)

    Thanks to this support, we can continue to provide a stable learning environment where children can engage with the Japanese language and culture. We sincerely appreciate the generosity of the Upper Harbour Local Board and the ongoing support from our community.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Japanese Children's Library Update: A New Chapter Begins

      19 May 2025

    On May 14, 2025, JKET and the Japanese Children's Library officially closed their office in Rosedale. While this marks the end of an era, it opens new opportunities to support our community.

    We are deeply grateful to our generous donors and dedicated volunteers, whose support has allowed us to nurture a love for Japanese language and culture in Auckland. Your contributions have given us the strength to adapt during this transition.

    Although our physical library has closed, our valuable collection of books will still be used for storytelling events and classes at the Auckland Japanese Heritage Centre run by us. We are exploring innovative ways to maximise the impact of these resources for the community.

    Your donations help sustain our programmes and empower us to expand our outreach. Thank you for being a vital part of our journey. We look forward to sharing our next steps as we begin this exciting new chapter!

    📚 Japanese Storytime @ Albany Village Library Every Monday, 10:00 – 10:30 We welcome you to join us!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Story Time Marathon & Fundraiser Success！

      2 May 2025
    Main image

    We are incredibly grateful to everyone who participated in the Story Time Marathon on April 26, 2025, at the Japanese Children's Library, as well as to those who supported the Bake Sale and the kimono dressing experience. Your generosity and enthusiasm made the event a fantastic success, raising a total of $426.77!

    Thanks to your amazing support, we have now raised $18,961.41 toward our goal of $30,000 to reopen the Japanese Children's Library. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us closer to making this dream a reality.

    Our crowdfunding campaign is still ongoing, and every donation, share, and word of encouragement makes a significant difference. If you haven’t had a chance to contribute yet, there’s still time to make a meaningful impact.

    From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being a part of this journey with us!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • ✨ Update on Fundraising Progress-JKET ✨

      24 April 2025
    Main image

    Thanks to your warm support, we have successfully raised $18,534.64 towards our goal of $30,000 for the reopening of the Japanese Children's Library. (This total excludes grants from the Mazda Foundation and Foundation North.) We are truly grateful for every contribution and the support from each of you.

    Recently, we held a Sausage Sizzle event and raised $625.64—thank you to everyone who participated!

    On Saturday, the 26th, starting at 9:00 AM, we will be hosting the "Story Time Marathon" at the Japanese Children's Library in Rosedale as part of our fundraising efforts. We aim to reach the $20,000 milestone, and we would love to see you there.

    Additionally, we are continuing our crowdfunding campaign. If you could help spread the word by sharing our campaign with your friends and community, it would mean the world to us! Every share helps us reach more people and bring us closer to our goal.

    Thank you so much for your continued support‼

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Mazda Foundation Grant Acceptance Report

      17 April 2025
    Main image

    We are excited to announce that we have received a generous grant from the Mazda Foundation. We are grateful for their support, which will enable us to enhance the Japanese Children's Library and our initiatives to share culture and language with children.

    The funds will cover craft materials for our Japanese Storytime event, book maintenance supplies, etc. Thanks to the local public library's support and this grant, we are pleased to announce that Japanese Storytime will begin on Monday, April 28, at 10:00 AM at the Albany Village Public Library. Families and community members are warmly invited to join us.

    Thank you once again to the Mazda Foundation for their crucial contribution to preserving Japanese culture and supporting our children’s future.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Celebrating Our Fifth Year of Support: Grant Award & Ongoing Funding Challenges

      13 April 2025
    Main image

    JKET is honored to announce that we have been awarded a grant from Foundation North, marking our fifth consecutive year of continued support. In these challenging times—when securing grants is increasingly difficult—we are both humbled and grateful for this opportunity.

    This achievement reflects not only the quality of our efforts but also the unwavering encouragement and generosity of our members and supporters. Your steadfast commitment has been fundamental in helping us advance our mission of fostering a vibrant, multicultural society.

    However, while we celebrate this milestone, we must also acknowledge that our recent grant applications have encountered setbacks, with some being declined or approved at reduced amounts compared to previous years. As a result, your ongoing support remains more crucial than ever.

    Please continue to help us by spreading the word and contributing in any way you can. Together, we can build a brighter and more inclusive future for our community.

    Thank you for standing with us.

    **Upcoming Events:**

    - **Saturday, April 19:** Come and enjoy a Sausage Sizzle Sale at Mitre 10 Mega Albany!

    - **Saturday, April 26:** Don’t miss our Japanese Storytelling Marathon, featuring five delightful storytelling sessions in Japanese (about 30 minutes each).

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Halfway There! Join Us in Supporting the Japan Kauri Education Trust!

      1 April 2025
    Main image

    Thanks to your generosity, we’ve raised $7,540 through crowdfunding and another $8284.70 from direct donations and fundraising events, bringing us to an incredible $15,824.70. That’s half of our $30,000 goal reached! This amazing achievement reflects the strength and unity of our community. We are deeply grateful for your unwavering support.

    【Upcoming Fundraising Events】

    April 4th, 8th, 11th: Garage Sale & Secondhand Book Fair

    April 19th: Sausage Sizzle at Mitre 10 Mega Albany

    April 26th: Japanese Storytelling Marathon

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Celebrating the Success of the Japanese Children's Library Used Book Fair

      24 March 2025
    Main image

    We’re so thankful for the amazing turnout at our used book fair on March 16th and 23rd, which helped support the reopening of the Japan Children's Library! It was truly heartwarming to see so many familiar faces and to welcome new friends too. Thanks to your generosity, we raised about $2,500 on the first day and around $1,800 on the second day, making a fantastic total of $4,300!

    But this event was more than just a book sale—it turned into a lovely community gathering! We created a flea market space, offered potted plants and feijoas that were generously donated, and organised fun activities for the kids, like face painting and a bouncy ball scooping corner. It warmed our hearts to see families smiling and laughing together!

    We’re excited to keep the momentum going with more fundraising efforts through our crowdfunding campaign and various upcoming events. Your support means the world to us, and we truly appreciate your kindness and cooperation!

    **Upcoming Events:**

    - **Saturday, April 19:** Come and enjoy a Sausage Sizzle Sale at Mitre 10 Mega Albany!

    - **Saturday, April 26:** Don’t miss our Japanese Storytelling Marathon, featuring five delightful storytelling sessions in Japanese (about 30 minutes each).

    Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our community!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment