Philantrophy
Hiraya Foundation is our philanthropic initiative focused on backing people and ideas that move Aotearoa New Zealand forward. With a long-term lense, we support individuals, ideas and projects that create meaningful change.
We back initiatives shaping the future of education, amplifying the arts, and supporting emerging Kiwi talent.
In focus
A spotlight on the projects and people we're supporting.
CIE Alumni Fund
University of Auckland ‧ Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE)
In 2012, Kami was born from a student project at the University of Auckland's Velocity programme. Years later, with Kami now supporting over 70 million users worldwide, Alliv and Hengjie wanted to back the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Through Hiraya, they established the CIE Alumni Fund to keep these programmes free and accessible for years to come. In 2025 alone, CIE supported more than 8,000 students, and demand keeps growing. It's our way of providing access to young founders and creating a pathway for future alumni to do the same.
Common Material: Wellington Biennial 2026
5–7 June 2026 ‧ City Gallery Wellington
Common Material is a new design-focused cultural event celebrating Wellington as a centre for creative practice. This event brings together four of Wellington's most significant fashion labels, twenty-seven names, Yu Mei, Kowtow and JPalm, for a three-day exhibition, runway shows and conversations at City Gallery Wellington. It also marks the building's first public opening in over two years.
Hiraya is proud to support a creative platform that puts local talent front and centre. With ambitions to grow into a full biennial in 2028, we're excited to see what Wellington's creative community builds from here.