Powered by
Brian Gaynor Initiatives
Honouring a Legacy and Advancing Business Journalism in New Zealand
Brian Gaynor was a prodigious presence in the New Zealand business community for more than 40 years. He was passionate about quality business journalism and about making New Zealand a better place to live, work, and play. During his lifetime, he wrote columns for over 25 years that were a must-read for anyone interested in business, financial markets and investing. He was precise in his research, and his methodology and evidence were difficult to challenge.
Through Brian’s passion for quality business journalism, Anna Gibbons, Brian Gaynor’s wife of 30 years, was inspired to fund two Initiatives in Brian's name. These Initiatives aim to strengthen and promote high-quality business writing and journalism in New Zealand, improve opportunities for aspiring journalists, and raise awareness of the important role of business journalism in society.
“Brian believed deeply in how important it is for investors to have trust in their financial markets, in the importance of public disclosure to help achieve that, and the power of high quality analysis and news coverage of business and financial affairs in keeping the markets honest. Brian and I often discussed what lasting contribution we might make to the cause of quality business journalism in New Zealand. This Initiative is the best practical expression I can think of to honour Brian’s name and values and have a positive impact on the future of business journalism in New Zealand.”
__ Anna Gibbons
These Initiatives are designed to strengthen journalism in New Zealand over the long term by awarding scholarships for tertiary students and providing more opportunities for business journalists to pursue substantial investigative projects that clearly demonstrate the potential to break a major business news story or to upskill themselves.
The Milford Foundation, the charitable arm of Milford Asset Management, of which Brian was a founder, has kindly agreed to manage the administration of the Initiatives, which means that all the earnings of the fund will be available for distribution.
Award of Brian Gaynor Business Journalism Initiative Funding
The Brian Gaynor Business Journalism Initiative is funding recipients for its Business Writing & Journalism Excellence Award. Applications are being considered on a rolling basis.
The awards are part of a $2 million endowment administered by the Milford Foundation.
Previous grant recipients include:
For investigative business writing:
- Cecile Meier, a freelance journalist working with NZME/BusinessDesk for an investigation into New Zealand’s plastic waste.
- Rebecca Styles, Consumer NZ, for an investigation into the home insurance market in New Zealand.
For professional development:
- Matt Nippert, NZ Herald, to complete the Bellingcat Open Source investigative journalism course, including working on a story about illicit cargo and financial flows around the Pacific.
- Hamish McNicol, NBR, to take the LSE online certificate of financial analysis and management accounting.
Award of Brian Gaynor Business Writing & Journalism Scholarships
The Brian Gaynor Business Writing & Journalism Scholarships fund up to two final-year journalism students annually, who are focused on a career in business journalism. Applications are considered from March to May.
Previous recipients are:
2024
Phoebe Utteridge, University of Canterbury
Elsie Williams, University of Canterbury
2025
Isla Melton, University of Canterbury
Brian Gaynor Initiatives - Business Writing & Journalism Excellence Award
Open to NZ journalists, writers, editors, & news organisations
The purpose of this award is to promote excellent and well-informed business writing and journalism in New Zealand. It is not necessary for applicants in either category to be actively involved in business reporting, but their proposal must be relevant to economic, financial, or business matters.
The award has two categories:
1) Investigative business writing:
We are particularly interested in original, investigative projects that clearly demonstrate the potential to break a major business news story or stories. The format could be text, audio, video, photography or a mix of these.
We are less interested in applications where there is an intent to become better informed or undertake a general review of an issue. We are more likely to fund a project with a realistically costed budget. For applicants who work for a news organisation, we are more likely to look favourably on their application where there is a financial contribution or other commitment from an employer. This is particularly the case if the total budget is more than $30,000.
Applications Open:
28 April 2025
Applications Close:
30 November 2025
Grant:
Up to $40,000 per project.
2) Professional development:
This award offers support to upskill journalists who are either already reporting business news or want to move into this field. Funding might cover short course study or attendance at a business journalism conference for example. We do not fund travel for reporters to cover international conferences or set-piece news events.
This award is run on the basis of an annual request for proposals.
Applications Process:
Through UniversitiesNZ. Applications can be made at www.universitiesnz.ac.nz
Brian Gaynor Initiatives - Business Writing & Journalism Scholarships
Two scholarships are available and open to NZ undergraduate students.
The purpose of this scholarship is to raise awareness of business writing and journalism among tertiary students, and to introduce them to the legacy of Brian Gaynor. The scholarship is open to undergraduate students who produce exceptional work demonstrating significant skills in business journalism.
Grant:
Up to $5,000 each for two students ($10,000 total per annum).
Eligibility:
The scholarship is open to applications from tertiary students who are in the final year of study towards an undergraduate degree relevant to a career in journalism. Applicants must show an intent to build a career in business journalism.
Applications Open:
March 2026
Applications Close:
May 2026
Through UniversitiesNZ. The selection panel for this award will be determined in conjunction with UniversitiesNZ. Applications can be made at www.universitiesnz.ac.nz