The estate of the "Father of Auckland", Sir John Logan Campbell, has given 174 organisations across northern New Zealand grants totaling $815,205 this year.

Sir John, who was one of the first European settlers to arrive in Auckland, gifted Cornwall Park to the people of New Zealand in 1901. He also left his residuary estate in trust in perpetuity, with the income to be distributed each year as directed by his will.

This year's largest beneficiaries were the Neurological Foundation and the Auckland Observatory & Planetarium Trust Board, which each received $50,000.

The Observatory will use the funds for upgrading the Magic Planet, an interactive educational exhibit for the foyer of the building. The grant to the Neurological Foundation is part of a five-year pledge to the Chair.

Grants were also made to the Auckland City Mission, the Liggins Education Network for Science, the Auckland Zoo Charitable Trust, the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation, the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation and a wide range of other organisations involved in the arts, community support, education, the environment, medicine and youth. Applications for grants are received by The Cornwall Park Trust Board (Inc), which administers Sir John's residuary trust. Generally, the Trust Board may accept applications within the following categories: Relief of poverty Advancement of education Other purposes beneficial to the community The overriding requirement is that the purpose is of public benefit and any grants are for a sufficiently wide section of the community. Applications must be from organisations within the "Provincial District of Auckland." This covers approximately that part of the country North of Te Kuiti, Taumaranui, Turangi and the Mahia Peninsula.