Sir Ted Manson, founder of the Ted Manson Foundation and Mansons TCLM Limited, is a philanthropist and entrepreneur whose achievements reflect his commitment to breaking intergenerational cycles to create meaningful societal change. Over the past 50 years, his family-owned company has transformed the Auckland skyline, delivering thousands of homes and apartments, as well as over 40 commercial buildings valued at more than $5 billion.

Coming from a state house in Orakei, Sir Ted believed that if he could break through the barriers he faced, then anyone could. Later in life, he realised this simply wasn’t true. Having been raised in a stable environment by two supportive parents, Sir Ted recognised his start in life made all the difference. Seeing so many tamariki in South Auckland without the same stable foundation and affected by intergenerational poverty, trauma, and instability, Sir Ted focused his efforts on providing equal opportunity to break the cycle of dependency and disadvantage. 

Establishing the Ted Manson Foundation in 2014, Sir Ted worked out the two most important issues affecting vulnerable families are housing and education. This led him to personally invest more than $100 million in social housing projects like Westlight and Life Apartments, providing 163 apartments for families in need.

Stymied by a change in government to build more apartments, Sir Ted focused on the second most important issue, delivering access to education for South Auckland’s high-needs tamariki. To him, it’s pretty simple – education is fundamental to breaking the cycle of disadvantage, and early intervention works.

Sir Ted’s vision stems from a belief that no child should be defined by their circumstances, a desire to make life better for vulnerable tamariki, and the drive to prove it can be done. Known for his innate ability to focus and make things happen, he is committed to providing opportunities to high-needs communities to create stable foundations, break intergenerational cycles, and build better futures.