# Rātā Foundation

Rātā Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in Christchurch, New Zealand.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Christchurch, New Zealand
- **Region:** Oceania
- **Address:** 4 Hazeldean Road, Hazeldean Business Park, Addington, Christchurch, New Zealand
- **Founded:** 1988
- **Assets under management:** 703 (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** ratafoundation.org.nz
- **LinkedIn:** https://nz.linkedin.com/company/r%C4%81t%C4%81-foundation

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Rata Foundation was established in 1988 as the Community Trust of Canterbury and later renamed. It functions as the South Island's primary community investment vehicle, distributing grants across Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and the Chatham Islands. The foundation reports cumulative distributions exceeding $607 million since inception. Investment activity spans private equity at 11.74 percent of assets, direct commercial property ownership and venture commitments. Holdings include the Canterbury Trust House Limited portfolio in Canterbury and Nelson, the 242 Manchester St property in Christchurch and a joint-venture interest in Porirua. The foundation also participates as a limited partner in GD1 Fund 3 through Canterbury Direct Investments Limited and maintains ownership stakes in Alvarium (NZ) entities alongside the Gough Family Office. Leighton Evans leads the organization as chief executive with Cameron Gracey as chief financial officer. The foundation retains Mercer as investment advisor and maintains membership in the Responsible Investment Association Australasia. In September 2025 it participated as a speaker at the RIAA Conference Aotearoa NZ.

## Sectors

- Real Estate
- Venture Capital
- Financial Services

## People

- Leighton Evans — Chief Executive Officer
- Cameron Gracey — Chief Financial Officer
- Megan Glen — Independent member of the investment committee

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Rata Foundation?

Leighton Evans serves as chief executive. Cameron Gracey acts as chief financial officer. Megan Glen sits as an independent member of the investment committee.

### What asset classes does Rata Foundation allocate to?

The foundation holds private equity at 11.74 percent, direct commercial real estate through Canterbury Trust House Limited and limited-partner interests in venture funds.

### Does Rata Foundation make direct investments or only fund commitments?

It maintains direct ownership of commercial properties in Christchurch and Canterbury plus a 25 percent stake in Alvarium (NZ) Management Holdings Limited.

### Where does Rata Foundation deploy capital geographically?

Allocations focus on the South Island of New Zealand with additional exposure in Porirua and through New Zealand-based venture and financial services holdings.

### How is Rata Foundation governed relative to external partners?

It maintains a strategic partnership with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and co-owns Alvarium (NZ) entities with the Gough Family Office while retaining Mercer as investment advisor.

## Related profiles

- [Lead Corp](https://altss.com/profile/lead-corp)
- [GAO Capital](https://altss.com/profile/gao-capital)

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Last updated: 2026-07-08T21:10:31.177Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/rata-foundation

Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology