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The Josef Langer Charitable Trust  (JLCT) was formed as a result of a bequest from the estate of Josef Langer, a European immigrant to New Zealand who had worked as an electronics engineer for Air New Zealand. His two good friends, Simon Mortlock and Oliver Bramer became trustees of his estate and after several field trips and meetings, it was decided that after satisfying Josefs desire to help protect the big cats of Africa (this was done through donations to Orana Park to rebuild the Lion and Tiger enclosures), the remaining funds would be available for projects on the ‘Wildside’ of Banks Peninsula New Zealand. Josef Langer has a passionate interest in natural history. Hence, in 2005, The Josef Langer Charitable Trust was established to support conservation. The JLCT  has funds for allocation for the benefit of conservation on Banks Peninsula.

The stated objectives of the Josef Langer Charitable Trust are:

• To promote sustainable management and conservation (consistent with the purpose and principles of the Resource Management Act 1991 and the objectives of the Conservation Act 1987);
• To undertake or facilitate the undertaking of projects from scientific enquiries for the provision of educational opportunities which have the potential to harm the enjoyment by the public of areas which have high conservation values, whilst protecting, conserving, and sustainably managing the indigenous biodiversity of Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, New Zealand;
• To encourage and promote the enhancement, sustainable management and conservation of a physical and natural environment of Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, New Zealand and their natural resources;
• To share information and raise awareness within the community of sustainable management and conservation matters;
• To develop and maintain an inventory of ecological sites including significant indigenous vegetation and outstanding natural features;
• To commission research and monitor the status and quality of the environment;
• To purchase land and/or carry out improvements on land for sustainable management and conservation purposes;
• To fund charitable trusts where those funds are applied for charitable purposes in the provision of land and/or improvements for the protection of endangered species;
• To source and allocate funds for projects which support these charitable objects;
• To seek the support and involvement of appropriate organisations and agencies in allowing the charitable objects.

The key considerations for allocating the trust’s funds then are:

1. Facilitating conservation of natural areas and threatened species;
2. Focus on Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, New Zealand;
3. Fostering public enjoyment of nature and education about natural history;
4. Assisting other charitable trusts, agencies, groups or individuals engaged in conservation;
5. Tapping into other funding sources for suchlike conservation assistance (leveraging resources to achieve bigger outcomes).

An important additional consideration is that the Josef Langer Charitable Trust has been established to have a life of no more than 34 years, terminating in 2039. The trustees are entitled to allocate both income and capital to meet the trust’s objectives with an initial capital sum of $900,000 for Conservation work Banks Peninsula.

CRITERIA FOR ALLOCATING FUNDING​

Key criteria for making decisions about funding projects from the Josef Langer Charitable Trust are:

1. Projects must meet the Trust’s objectives.

In this case the fundamental project requirements are:

1. Facilitating conservation of natural areas and threatened species.

Applications should involve a conservation project in a natural area, and/or conservation of a species listed as nationally or regionally threatened.

1. Focus on Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Applications should be for projects located on Banks Peninsula.

1. Fostering public enjoyment of nature and education about natural history.

Applications should have a component of public education and involvement relating to the appreciation of nature.

1. Assisting other conservation efforts.

Applications should contribute to and enhance conservation projects run by other charitable trusts, agencies, groups or individuals.

1. Tapping into other funding sources for suchlike conservation assistance (leveraging resources to achieve bigger outcomes).

Applications should have funding in addition to that contributed by the Josef Langer Charitable Trust. This is most likely to be through collaboration with other agencies and charitable trusts, but could also be through donations or corporate sponsorship.