Graham & Dobson is proud to have made a Platinum donation of $15,000 to the War Memorial Theatre Gisborne Trust to support this worthy project for the district.



Originally built in 1957 by the RSA, the War Memorial Theatre Hall as it was known played host to countless dances, concerts, balls and even a wedding or two. At this time Gisborne was a show town boasting no less than 3 picture houses as well as a theatre in the form of the Opera House. However, in the mid-1960s as television took over it was inevitable that tastes would change - and they did. By 1968 Gisborne had lost its Opera House to the wrecking ball. Dances were on the decline and as audiences dwindled, the future of the War Memorial Hall was uncertain. Luckily in 1973 a reprieve came. The community realised that it needed a theatre. A committee was formed and fundraising began to convert the War Memorial Hall into a theatre. By 1975 the work was completed and the War Memorial theatre was born. Forty years later in 2013 the theatre underwent a major redevelopment resulting in what you see today, officially reopened in April 2015.

Graham & Dobson proudly donated $5,000 towards the construction of a much needed hangar to house the chopper that provides a vital community service.

The $700,000 project was completed and officially opened in June 2014. The building provides a large hangar bay for the rescue helicopter, along with an office, accommodation space, kitchen and toilet facilities and a lecture room, replacing the sub-standard helicopter base nearby that the Trust had previously been operating from. The ECT Rescue Helicopter currently flies about 80 missions a year and covers the area between Mahia and Waikaremoana, to the East Cape and around to Te Kaha. The range of services provided includes primary response for accidents and critically ill patients, search and rescue (including off-shore missions), and inter-hospital transfer throughout New Zealand. The ECT Rescue Helicopter also supports police operations, the fire service and civil defence.

Find more information on how you too can support the Trust, and read about Graham & Dobson client, Kim Mossman's harrowing night time rescue!

Graham & Dobson is proud to have made a donation of $1,100 to the construction of the Cycle Park.



We agree with the Lions that this is a valuable community asset and it is great to see our region's children having fun in the outdoors whilst learning to be safe and confident users of our roads and cycleways.

Graham & Dobson has taken up annual sponsorship of a hectare in the Whinray Reserve at Motu in order to assist the Trust with the restoration and protection of wildlife, namely the kiwi, in this area near the Motu Falls.

Their "Sponsor A Hectare" project is a unique way for you, your family or your business to become involved in restoring and protecting wildlife in this beautiful Reserve. Sponsorship options range from $100 - $250 per year, and your donation may be tax deductible. 

Click here;for more information.