Your information about the Stevenson Foundation making money from fossil fuels is incorrect. Please don’t spread this misinformation it’s incredibly disappointing
I'm sorry you are mistaken Emily. The Stevenson Foundation is a completely different entity to the Stevenson Group. The Stevenson Group do not donate to Auckland Museum or Stevenson Foundation. This information can be found publicly on the Govt's Charities Services website. The campaigning organisation, 350 Aotearoa, have made this mistake before, the Auckland Museum wrote to the campaigning organisation several years ago to clarify who the Stevenson Foundation are/ and more importantly who they are not. If you wish to get a concrete divestment policy then contact Stevenson Group, but again they are a different organisation to Stevenson Foundation so it's not relevant to this article in your newsletter about Auckland Museum.
Kia Ora Robin! I see some of the trustees of the Stevenson Foundation are ex-directors of the Stevenson group - and there are other strong links between the two.
Are you able to demonstrate that the Stevenson Foundations money is not linked to coal mining in NZ?
The Stevenson Foundation is a small family operated charity run by unpaid volunteers. Although we are small we feel very grateful that we can donate money to amazing organisations like the Museum, Okē Charity, Sustainable Coastlines etc. The allegations that we receive money from Stevenson Group is wrong, and misleading. It's also very upsetting to have to defend the mahi we do when it's easy to find out where our income comes from via the Charities Services website. Please take a moment to check, that is where you'll find that we have no links to receiving income from coal mining, or Stevenson Group in general.
The Stevenson Foundation is a seperate entity to Stevenson Group, and the Stevenson Foundation does not receive money from Stevenson Group.
Auckland Museum wrote to you back in 2018 to clarify who the Foundation are and correct your assumptions that Stevenson Foundation are funded by Stevenson Group.
This is from that letter;
"Auckland Museum does receive donations from the Stevenson Foundation which is a charitable organisation with a strong track-record of assisting groups and organisations that improve, empower and enrich the lives of children, young people, families and communities.
Please note, Stevenson Group and the Stevenson Foundation are distinct entities, with the
Foundation established by the late Sir William and Lady Ruby Stevenson to facilitate charitable
giving. The Foundation has operated for more than 50 years in Auckland and has achieved
remarkable outcomes for residents of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Auckland Museum itself is governed by a Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives which outlines the organisation’s funding and investment objectives and policies.
This document ensures investment by the Museum ‘avoids prejudice to New Zealand’s reputation as a responsible member of the world community’, ‘considers investments that provide positive social returns’, and ‘balances the financial objectives of the Museum with the goal of creating an overall portfolio consistent with the Museum’s core social values and mission’. Auckland Museum takes a proactive stance on environmental sustainability, as a critical part of our 20-year Future Museum strategy. The Museum has made big strides in recent years as part of that commitment. As of April 2018, the Museum is in the top 5 CEMARS and carboNZero certified organisations nationally in our carbon reduction efforts.
Our next phase sees sustainable practices embedded into our building works programme, the reuse of exhibition materials, and a major focus on recycling and reduction across the business. We will also engage with Aucklanders on environmental issues through our exhibitions, public programmes and education activities.
While we commend your efforts to drive greater awareness for the impacts of climate
change, we believe a more appropriate channel to address your concerns is in direct contact with the organisations from which you are seeking the greatest change. We respectfully request that you address your questions to Stevenson Group in this instance to start that dialogue.
Thanks for your apology Emily, which I appreciate. As a recipient of your newsletter, I must admit that I was really disheartened when I read the article. Our commitment to sustainability and renewable energy initiatives holds significant importance to us. In light of this, I sincerely hope that 350 Aotearoa ceases with this misinformation. It's sad to have a misalignment of efforts, particularly when so many dedicated individuals at the Climate Club, Auckland Museum and Stevenson Foundation are working towards a common goal.
Your information about the Stevenson Foundation making money from fossil fuels is incorrect. Please don’t spread this misinformation it’s incredibly disappointing
Uh oh! Will look into it now. Thanks for letting us know Robin
Thanks Emily, I appreciate your response. Where did you source this information from please?
Sorry for the delay, we wanted to be thorough and speak with the campaigning organisation. They were definitely operating a coalmine as of 2011:
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1105/S01066/preferred-contractor-selected-for-rotowaro-opencast-mine.htm?from-mobile=bottom-link-01
The mine has still been operating as of 2020:
https://waateanews.com/2020/10/12/climate-activists-blockade-rotowaro-mine/
However it's possible that Stevenson are no longer involved in the mine:
https://miningdataonline.com/property/4493/Rotowaro-Mine.aspx#Owners
Would love to see a concrete divestment statement from the group so we know for sure!
I'm sorry you are mistaken Emily. The Stevenson Foundation is a completely different entity to the Stevenson Group. The Stevenson Group do not donate to Auckland Museum or Stevenson Foundation. This information can be found publicly on the Govt's Charities Services website. The campaigning organisation, 350 Aotearoa, have made this mistake before, the Auckland Museum wrote to the campaigning organisation several years ago to clarify who the Stevenson Foundation are/ and more importantly who they are not. If you wish to get a concrete divestment policy then contact Stevenson Group, but again they are a different organisation to Stevenson Foundation so it's not relevant to this article in your newsletter about Auckland Museum.
Kia Ora Robin! I see some of the trustees of the Stevenson Foundation are ex-directors of the Stevenson group - and there are other strong links between the two.
Are you able to demonstrate that the Stevenson Foundations money is not linked to coal mining in NZ?
Kia ora.
The Stevenson Foundation is a small family operated charity run by unpaid volunteers. Although we are small we feel very grateful that we can donate money to amazing organisations like the Museum, Okē Charity, Sustainable Coastlines etc. The allegations that we receive money from Stevenson Group is wrong, and misleading. It's also very upsetting to have to defend the mahi we do when it's easy to find out where our income comes from via the Charities Services website. Please take a moment to check, that is where you'll find that we have no links to receiving income from coal mining, or Stevenson Group in general.
The Stevenson Foundation is a seperate entity to Stevenson Group, and the Stevenson Foundation does not receive money from Stevenson Group.
Auckland Museum wrote to you back in 2018 to clarify who the Foundation are and correct your assumptions that Stevenson Foundation are funded by Stevenson Group.
This is from that letter;
"Auckland Museum does receive donations from the Stevenson Foundation which is a charitable organisation with a strong track-record of assisting groups and organisations that improve, empower and enrich the lives of children, young people, families and communities.
Please note, Stevenson Group and the Stevenson Foundation are distinct entities, with the
Foundation established by the late Sir William and Lady Ruby Stevenson to facilitate charitable
giving. The Foundation has operated for more than 50 years in Auckland and has achieved
remarkable outcomes for residents of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Auckland Museum itself is governed by a Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives which outlines the organisation’s funding and investment objectives and policies.
This document ensures investment by the Museum ‘avoids prejudice to New Zealand’s reputation as a responsible member of the world community’, ‘considers investments that provide positive social returns’, and ‘balances the financial objectives of the Museum with the goal of creating an overall portfolio consistent with the Museum’s core social values and mission’. Auckland Museum takes a proactive stance on environmental sustainability, as a critical part of our 20-year Future Museum strategy. The Museum has made big strides in recent years as part of that commitment. As of April 2018, the Museum is in the top 5 CEMARS and carboNZero certified organisations nationally in our carbon reduction efforts.
Our next phase sees sustainable practices embedded into our building works programme, the reuse of exhibition materials, and a major focus on recycling and reduction across the business. We will also engage with Aucklanders on environmental issues through our exhibitions, public programmes and education activities.
While we commend your efforts to drive greater awareness for the impacts of climate
change, we believe a more appropriate channel to address your concerns is in direct contact with the organisations from which you are seeking the greatest change. We respectfully request that you address your questions to Stevenson Group in this instance to start that dialogue.
Ngā mihi,
Megan McSweeney
Director Business, External Affairs & Tourism
Thank you Robin for the comprehensive response - removing the petition from our newsletter now. Apologies for the mix up 💚
Thanks for your apology Emily, which I appreciate. As a recipient of your newsletter, I must admit that I was really disheartened when I read the article. Our commitment to sustainability and renewable energy initiatives holds significant importance to us. In light of this, I sincerely hope that 350 Aotearoa ceases with this misinformation. It's sad to have a misalignment of efforts, particularly when so many dedicated individuals at the Climate Club, Auckland Museum and Stevenson Foundation are working towards a common goal.