Energy Today, For Tomorrow

A new suspension bridge over the Whangaehu River is making the Te Araroa Trail safer and more enjoyable for walkers, thanks in part to support from Firstgas, part of Clarus. The 120-metre bridge, near Whanganui, has officially opened, providing an important new connection along New Zealand's 3,000-kilometre walking trail.

Funding from Firstgas, part of Clarus has helped a Taranaki waka ama crew take on some of the world’s best at the International Va’a Federation World Sprint Championships in Singapore. The crew competed in the Master Women’s 40-50 age group division in a W12 event at the championships in August, representing Taranaki on the international stage.

It’s good news for New Zealand’s electricity system as we head into the final months of 2026. Transpower’s latest Energy Security Outlook shows national hydro storage sitting well above historic averages at 133%, with South Island storage at 142%.

The Government has announced it will remove one of the costs that holds back gas storage development in New Zealand. Currently, developers pay royalties for ‘cushion gas’, which sits in an underground storage facility to maintain total gas pressure. Cushion gas can’t be sold or extracted, but currently requires a 5% fee to be paid on its estimated value.

When your business needs fast, consistent and controllable energy, natural gas can be a great choice, which is why more than 16,000 New Zealand businesses rely on gas. For many businesses, gas provides energy that is responsive and easy to control. It can heat large spaces, cook with precision and provide continuous hot water, generate steam and support industrial processes that require high temperatures.

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.