Community

Freyberg High School students have raced their way into the world top six at the 2026 Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP) World Finals, with support from the Clarus Community Fund. The Palmerston North team travelled to Bulle, Switzerland, for the World Finals in June, competing against 90 student teams from more than 23 countries.

Two young BMX riders from New Plymouth are heading to the world stage, to represent New Zealand at the 2026 UCI BMX World Championships in Brisbane.

One of the latest initiatives Clarus is supporting through our Community Partnership Fund is a sponsorship for Age Concern Taranaki. We’ve helped cover the cost of a professional vehicle wrap featuring Age is Just a Number artwork by artist Paul Rangiwahia.

Recently, Firstgas, part of Clarus was proud to support the Fitzroy Surf Lifesaving Club’s senior team as they travelled to Ōhope to compete in the 2026 Surf Lifesaving New Zealand Nationals.

Firstgas, a Clarus company, was proud to support this year’s Energy Sector Fishing Competition over Summer, an event that brings together people from across the energy sector while giving back to the local New Plymouth community. Although we didn’t have a Firstgas team on the water this year, we were pleased to come on board as a sponsor and see the positive impact the competition delivered.

Clarus company, Firstgas is a proud sponsor of the Riding for Disabled (RDA) in Taranaki. 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 Sia, a much loved RDA horse, we help the RDA in Taranaki 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.

Firstgas is a long time partner of the Taranaki Special Children’s Extravaganza. A yearly event that creates lasting positive memories for around 700 local children and their families each year. Nominated through schools and community organisations, these children are facing serious challenges, from illness to adversity at home. The day offers fun, food, laughter and rides, finishing with each child taking home three brand-new toys to extend the joy long after the event ends.

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 2025 event was a record breaker with 65 carvers participating, which created a real buzz in the Mōkau community over the long weekend.

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.

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.

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.

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 museum with funding to help ensure the Society can document and display taonga, natural history and cultural heritage relating 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.

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.