The Kyrgyzstan New Zealand Rural Trust raised more than $300,000 at a charity auction and dinner in Queenstown last week.
Trustee Derek Kirke, of Wanaka, yesterday said 120 people attended the function at Sofitel's Chop Chop Restaurant, raising $151,000.
Wellington economist and philanthropist Gareth Morgan has agreed to match the amount raised dollar-for-dollar.
Mr Kirke said the trust was very excited by Mr Morgan's further announcement of a ‘‘micro-credit scheme'' he had agreed to support to the tune of $200,000.
The scheme will allow Kyrgyz villagers working on proven projects to borrow funds to be repaid over a three-year period.
‘‘This will be administered by people we've identified as competent at running the scheme.''
The trust was launched last year in Wanaka and has previously raised $166,000.
The additional money means the trust now had two years' funding and could plan a year in advance. The trust was also excited about being able to take its work to the next level.
‘‘People have been amazingly generous,'' he said.
The trust helps impoverished agricultural communities in the remote, formerly communist country and was founded by Canterbury farmer Tony Ryan, Mr Kirke and others.
