The Trust Board met on the 16th November to approve project, equipment, travel, and conference support grants. The Board also approved final details of changes signalled previously for applicants seeking funds for projects and equipment, and travel to conferences. These changes are explained under the grant categories.

The changes relate primarily to the introduction of a one year stand-down period for projects and travel. A further change is that the Trust Board decided that applications for travel to conferences will only be considered for approval if the date of travel occurs after the relevant Board meeting. This means that there will be no retrospective funding for travel. In practice this will not affect the majority of applicants as there are three travel rounds each year (with closing dates of 1st March, 1st June and 1st October and with associated Board meetings in mid to late April, July and November). In some instances applicants may need to apply slightly earlier than previously. These changes, and other changes on eligibility, are covered under the grant categories.

At the November Trust Board meeting a total of $294,600 was approved for projects and equipment, travel, and conference support, similar to the amount awarded a year ago ($294,250). Thirty one applications were successful. The total number of applications, however, was lower in this round (51) compared with November 2016 (90), although the total requested amounts were similar – $1,225,905 in 2016 and $1,212,269 in 2017.

As posted previously, the Office of the MPPT has moved from Parnell to Grafton and our contact details have changed. The office is at 89 Grafton Rd, the new phone number is 09 379 5316, the postal address is PO Box 110008 Auckland Hospital 1148, and the email address for all Trust correspondence is now zn.tppm@tppm.