The France Trust Scheme was established under the late Robert France’s will for charitable purposes. The trust provides a number of scholarships to school leavers across the Hawke’s Bay region.

The trustees have formed the view that it would best further the trust’s charitable purposes if the trust fund were administered by the Hawke’s Bay Foundation as a separate fund called the Robert France Fund. A High Court application has been made under the Trusts Act 2019 in CIV-2024-485-691 to give effect to this proposal.

If the proposal is approved:

1. The Robert France Fund will be administered in accordance with its existing charitable purposes; and
2. All distributions and grants will be considered by a committee, which will initially comprise the three existing trustees of the France Trust Scheme, and a fourth member to be appointed from the Hawke’s Bay Foundation Trust Board.

If anyone reading this notice wishes to become involved in the court application, they may attend the First Call of this application on Monday, 3 February 2025 at 10.00am.

If any person wishes to become involved in the court application (or wishes to oppose it) then they must give written notice to the High Court Registrar, the trustees, and the Attorney-General not less than seven clear days before that day.

The trustees can be contacted by email to their solicitors on kimberly.lawrence@trustlaw.co.nz and kevin.zhu@trustlaw.co.nz provided confirmation of receipt is received.

This notice is made under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 by order of the High Court.