George Mason Charitable Trust announces $25m gift to advance biological sciences research
11 February 2026
The impact of the late George Mason continues, with a multi-million dollar gift to boost research into the natural environment and biological sciences.
The George Mason Charitable Trust has announced a landmark $25 million gift to four New Zealand universities. It is the largest-ever single bequest to higher education, and will go towards advancing scholarly research in the natural environment and biological sciences.
As the Trust winds up its affairs, its remaining funds are being distributed to four universities with strong connections to Dr George Mason and his philanthropy: the University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, Massey University and the University of Waikato.
This significant investment will allow postgraduate students and researchers to pursue natural science research projects in New Zealand or overseas, and will support the publication and dissemination of original environmental research.
Barry Upson, chair of the George Mason Charitable Trust, said he and the other trustees, all friends of Dr Mason, believed he would have been delighted that his gift would allow research dear to his heart to continue.
“George cared deeply about the natural world and the people who devote their lives to understanding it. Knowing that his legacy will strengthen research in the natural environment and biological sciences at four universities would have brought him real joy. This gift reflects the curiosity, generosity and quiet determination that shaped his life, and we are proud to honour his wishes in this way.”
The Trust has also signalled its intention to fund scholarships in the Taranaki region, where Mason was raised. These scholarships will support students who can actively promote his legacy, and extend the research enabled through Mason’s philanthropic grants across the four universities.
George cared deeply about the natural world and the people who devote their lives to understanding it. Knowing that his legacy will strengthen research in the natural environment and biological sciences ... would have brought him real joy.
In a joint statement, the vice-chancellors of the universities expressed their gratitude for such a significant gift. They said "the funding will play a vital role in enabling high-quality research, supporting early-career scholars and encouraging collaboration between researchers in the biological and natural environment sciences".
They added that Dr Mason’s inspirational legacy, at a time when philanthropic investment has become increasingly important with New Zealand research funding harder to secure, will strengthen the future of Aotearoa New Zealand’s scientific capability and have a profound impact on students and research teams dedicated to understanding and protecting the natural world. All four added that the gift will create opportunities for research staff and students that would not otherwise have been possible.
About Dr George Mason ONZM
Dr George Mason was an accomplished research scientist, environmentalist, philanthropist and passionate advocate for the Taranaki region. In 1995, he established the George Mason Charitable Trust to promote science in schools and universities and to support environmental initiatives, many of which focused on the Taranaki region.
Mason, who had a BSc and MSc from the University of Auckland, as well as a doctorate from the University of California, Davis, co-founded the agricultural chemical company Taranaki NuChem Ltd (later Zelam Ltd) and was recognised internationally as an expert in weed science. Over decades, he donated millions of dollars to environmental, scientific and arts causes. He was also awarded honorary doctorates from both the University of Auckland and University of Waikato.
He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2020 for services to conservation and the community, and passed away in 2024 at the age of 94.
Decades of impact
A few examples of how the George Mason Charitable Trust has previously fostered research include:
- Provided $5m to establish the George Mason Centre for the Natural Environment at the University of Auckland in 2016. Scholars have tackled issues such as kauri dieback, tracking movements of endangered whales, protecting kelp forests, investigating the feeding habits of seabirds and reducing microplastics in our waterways, while also engaging in effective community outreach centred on sustaining the environment.
- More than $600,000 in scholarships at Massey University since 2002, including the George Mason Sustainable Land Use Scholarship (more than 50 science students) and, since 2016, full-time Wildlife PhD Scholarships.
- At Victoria University, a generous gift from the Trust funded the creation of the Temperate Mesophotic Ecosystem Research Group, to focus on deep water or mesophotic reefs, as well as buy a sophisticated remote-operated vehicle. The Trust has also supported student scholarships to observe previously unobserved marine communities and understand their significance.
- At Waikato, the Trust funded $500k in postgraduate scholarships over five years for integrated research into Taranaki ecosystems, covering marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments. It has also provided support through scholarships and research project funding for almost 20 years. Research projects have covered topics ranging from alpine herb fields and native bird habitats to stream food-web ecology and coastal ecosystem health in relation to catchment health.