26 SEP 2025
Contact launches $5 million The Good Initiative to support vulnerable Kiwis
Contact Energy (Contact) today launched The Good Initiative, a comprehensive programme to further support customers and communities doing it tough, with $5 million committed this year.
Contact is partnering with social agencies and heartland community groups to cover their energy costs, freeing up funds to go directly toward supporting those in their communities who need it most.
The initiative will begin by focusing on the Northland, Gisborne and central North Island areas, with plans to expand to other regions.
Contact will also be able to provide more direct help to vulnerable customers experiencing energy hardship.
“We understand the responsibility power companies carry to balance commercial performance with social responsibility, and as an energy provider we take that responsibility seriously,” says Contact’s Chief Executive Mike Fuge.
“In the last year we invested all our profit back into building the critical energy infrastructure New Zealand needs, and we’re doing that at pace. The more we build, the sooner prices will come down. At the same time, through programmes like The Good Initiative, we’re expanding our efforts to support the organisations that know their communities best.”
The Good Initiative builds on Contact’s existing support programmes, including its long-standing partnership with Women’s Refuge, where Contact provides free power and broadband to all safe houses and refuges nationwide.
Another example is Whangārei social service and community law charity Whare Āwhina, that says the financial contribution it receives represents more than just free power.
"Contact’s ongoing support covers power bills for our transitional whare for wāhine and our social supermarket, directly helping thousands of whānau access kai and reducing food waste. Every dollar saved on electricity goes back into supporting our community. This partnership shows the real impact we can achieve together in Te Taitokerau,” says Liz Cassidy-Canning, Chief Executive of Whare Āwhina.
Additionally, Contact launched the Northland Community Wellbeing Fund last year and began ongoing outreach efforts in Greater Wellington and Manawatū, engaging with customers through in-person clinics. In the same year, Contact also removed disconnection and reconnection fees for non-payment for all customers resulting in the number of disconnections dropping substantially.
Through The Good Initiative, Contact will now reach and support more community organisations who need it most.
ENDS
Media enquiries
Lotty Hird, Senior Communications Advisor
Email: [email protected]
