Contemporary image culture in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Who we are

Vistru Arts Charitable Trust is an Auckland-based non-profit dedicated to exhibitions, education, and public programmes centered on photography. Our mission is to grow contemporary photography in Aotearoa New Zealand through credible curation, open participation, and community benefit.

"Vistru" blends Visual and Stratum—a nod to images as layered strata that reveal social and personal textures.

What we do

We treat programmes as civic platforms where creators, audiences, and supporters animate a living ecosystem for photographic culture.

• Curate & exhibit contemporary photography and cross-media shows.
• Educate & connect: workshops, talks, and community sessions for young photographers, students, Chinese communities, and local audiences.
• Create public value: all income (sponsorship, grants, tickets, donations) is applied solely to our purposes—never for private profit.

Governance & accountability

• Trustees & Chair: The Trust maintains at least two trustees. The Founder, Zhuoyang Li, is a permanent trustee and serves as Chair.
• Major decisions: Deed amendments, trustee changes, winding up, and financial commitments above the threshold require Chair approval; the Chair holds a casting vote.
• Asset-lock: Funds must be used only for charitable purposes. Payments to trustees or related parties cover actual services at fair market value, approved by non-interested trustees.
• Conflicts of interest: Trustees declare conflicts, abstain from voting on related matters, and entries are minuted in the register.
• Records & reporting: We keep accurate minutes and accounts, filing required annual returns.
• Meetings & resolutions: Convened at least twice a year, in person or via audio/visual link; unanimous written or electronic resolutions are valid.
• Banking & controls: Trust bank accounts require dual authorisation for payments, including online banking; the financial year ends 31 March.
• Governing law & charitable compliance: Operates under New Zealand law and maintains eligibility for charitable or donee status.

Copyright & use

Copyright in exhibited or submitted artworks remains with the artist. Contributors grant the Trust a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to reproduce materials for catalogues, website, social media, and other promotional media for charitable purposes, with credit where practicable.

Works created by or for the Trust (excluding artists’ original works) belong to the Trust unless otherwise agreed.