Community

Every year, as part of our Clarus community partnership fund and ongoing mahi to give back, we donate $5,000 to one incredible charity, as voted on by our people at Clarus. This year’s winner was Ronald McDonald House (RMHC), which provides a “home away from home” for families with seriously ill children, offering comfort and support during tough times. Some of the Clarus team visited RMHC and said it was a great opportunity to learn more about the incredible work the charity does for families across New Zealand and how the donations make a difference.

With funding support from Firstlight Network the energy coaching service, EnergyMate launched in Wairoa in November 2024. The service is provided by Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Trust who helps whānau better understand their energy use and find ways to save. An important part of the service is connecting them with their electricity retailer who can help with affordable payment options and confirm they are on the best plan. While Firstlight Network is focused on delivering a resilient network, it's also passionate about creating good energy and connectedness across the region — the kind that goes beyond a flick of the switch, which is why we are right behind supporting EnergyMate.

Firstgas was excited to partner with Taranaki Rugby to bring the Firstgas Urenui Showdown to North Taranaki on 2 August 2024. The NPC preseason match between Yarrows Taranaki Bulls and Bay of Plenty drew a capacity crowd of 2,500 excited supporters who watched the Bulls defeat Bay of Plenty 31-26. Firstgas’ daily operations touch many communities around North Taranaki. We work in partnership with those who are living and working around our pipelines, and we value these relationships. Bringing the big game to Urenui was just one way we were able to show our appreciation.

Milly Marshall Kirkwood is a remarkable young woman with a burning desire to become a world champion in seated discus and shotput and compete in the 2028 Paralympics. Through the Firstgas Community Fund we are proud to support Milly as a bronze sponsor to help fulfil her dream. Athletics New Zealand (ANZ) believes Milly has the potential to reach the 2028 Paralympics and prior to that, the World Para Athletics Championships. Milly is a member of High Performance Sport NZ and holds numerous achievements in the seated discus and shotput. We can't wait to see Milly grow and develop as an athlete as she working towards her goal of attending the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028.

With funding support from Firstlight Network the Tapuae rugby team we able invest in gear for the players, cover their travel and hosting costs for the 2024 Premier Poverty Bay rugby competition. This all helped the team in achieving their ultimate goal, which was to become the first-time premier competition winners for Tapuae! The team demonstrated a strong belief in the power of sports to bring people together, inspire teamwork and foster a sense of community. Firstlight Network is proud of the team’s success and is excited to see the good energy and connectedness this partnership has created in the community.

Firstgas has been a supporter of the New Plymouth Mountain Bikers Club since 2016 and in 2023 became the main sponsor of the Club’s medic team, who attend all major club events. With Firstgas’ support, the Club plans to expand its medic team and put them through specific mountain bike first-aid training. Pictured above are Finn and Amber, they are proficient in advanced emergency care, including the use of oxygen, defibrillators, advanced airway management tools, and resuscitation techniques. Firstgas is pleased to be able to provide support to the Club for this important mahi over the next five years.

Clarus company, Firstgas is proud to partner with the Taranaki Secondary Schools’ Sports Association (TSSSA), who are passionate about Taranaki youth being engaged in sport for life. Running more than 40 sporting events a year for over 4000 youth, the TSSSA encourages participation in a diverse range of sports that are non-competitive and inclusive of all students across Taranaki. Our employees volunteer at some of these events and helps students with their sports activities. We also talk to the kids about the future of renewable gas, while they enjoy a sausage sizzle cooked on our hydrogen BBQ.

Clarus company, Firstgas is a proud sponsor of the Riding for Disabled (RDA) in Taranaki and Christchurch. The RDA is a voluntary, non-profit organisation providing riding activities that increase the ability, independence and confidence of people with physical, intellectual, emotional, and social challenges. Through our support of two much loved RDA horses, ‘Cruz’ and ‘Jazz’, we help the RDA to enable and support disabled people to achieve good lives including meaningful participation in, and contribution to, important life activities and roles in their community.

The Mōkau Museum was established by the Tainui Historical Society to display the collection of artifacts that are of interest to the area. Clarus business, Firstgas has supported the musuem with funding to help ensure the Society can document and display tanoga, natural history and cultural heritage realting to the region, where both the Maui and Kapuni gas pipelines are operating in the area. A display in the Museum highlights the history of the Firstgas owned pipelines and explains the significance of its relationship with local iwi, Ngāti Tama over the years.

Through our pipeline operations in the Mōkau region, Clarus business, Firstgas is a sponsor of the annual bone carving symposium that takes place at Easter every year. This is a national art event that helps to restore the mana of bone carving and encourages people to get involved, whilst raising the skill level amongst carvers, which helps to encourage and inspire all involved. The 2023 event was a record breaker with 60 carvers participating, which created a real buzz in the Mōkau community over the long weekend.

The Ngati Porou East Coast (NPEC) Rugby Union is the pride of the East Coast, Tāirawhiti, and the only one of its kind in the entire country that is iwi based. NPEC share their rich heritage and their passion for the game of rugby from their club grounds at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria. Clarus business, Firstlight Network are equally proud to be sponsors of the Hamoterangi senior wahine team. Together with our contractors we work across the East Coast, and we are delighted to be able to support this iconic rugby team and share the excitement of their big games with local fans.