Powerco Community Fund
Round 1 is now open for applications
We're proud to be part of the communities we serve and we’re committed to supporting projects and initiatives across our network that are meaningful to our customers, and make a positive difference to their lives.
That’s why our Powerco Community Fund provides support up to $5,000 for one-off projects that are focused on connecting and supporting the communities we operate in on our electricity network footprint.
Important dates for 2026 Powerco Community Fund Round 1
- Applications close Monday 30 March 2026
- We will be in touch with successful applicants between 20th and 30th April 2026
- Payments for funding will be made 20 May 2026, if all paperwork is completed within the timeframe outlined
- Projects need to take place between May 2026 and November 2026
- Projects need to take place on our electricity network footprint
- Have a project that takes place after November 2026? We will have another round of Community Funding opening up later this year
If you have any questions, please email community@powerco.co.nz.
Community Fund recipients
Here are a few stories from some of the very worthy recipients of the Powerco Community Fund in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Whiritoa Lifeguard Service – Team UP team build day
Whirtoa is a small beach town in the Coromandel with 200 permanent residents and predominantly holiday homes. The surf clubs mission is to provide a safe, fun and adventurous environment where their members, families and friends can participate in all areas of club activities. They used funding to help run an event aimed at furthering the bonds between their lifeguard team, and to encourage more family members to consider lifeguarding as a worthy volunteer role.
Kura Kai Christmas drive
Kura Kai core mission is to donate freezers and cooked meals to partnered secondary schools, providing essential relief in times of need and engaging students through their Kua Kai Rangatahi initiative. Powerco Community Fund allowed to purchase grocery vouchers to support 7 schools in Tauranga, South Waikato, Wairarapa and Taranaki.
Youth Voices Action
YVA is dedicated to empowering young people and creating innovative youth development. Their mission is to deliver youth-centred opportunities that transform communities by placing young voices at the heart of decision making. They used their funding to help create a community clean-up event to engage the Tauranga community and preserve the environment.
Tu Mai Digital
Tu Mai Digital aim to provide equitable access to digital inclusion to communities across the Bay of Plenty. The Powerco Community Fund allowed them to deliver multiple workshops across the region to various community groups to help increase digital literacy.
Tangata Marae - skills sharing workshops
“The funding had a positive impact on our whānau, hapū and iwi by contributing to our wānanga. The wānanga allowed for sharing of skills, such as karanga and whaikorero, and transmission of cultural knowledge and tikanga while bringing our community together, fostering a sense of belonging and unity.”Manchester House Social Services
“I have been regularly attending the low impact classes at the Feilding Senior Hub for many years now. I absolutely love the camaraderie and being a part of something. The new bikes are far better on my knees and hips and I am finding the strength in my lower legs is finally increasing. The circulation boosters are also fantastic to keep the blood flow in my legs and I have gained feeling back in my feet.”Te Aroha – Day at the Domain
A Day at the Domain is a fun and affordable family day out in the beautiful Te Aroha Hot Springs Domain. With free entry and entertainment throughout the day, local crafters and artisans, coffee, food trucks, there is something to delight the young and old and everyone in between.Sustainable Backyards events – Western Bay of Plenty
Sustainable Backyards is a series of events that were delivered during the month of March across the Bay of Plenty, with events ranging from beach clean-ups, movie nights and workshops.
Digital seniors
Digital Seniors, who provide free technical support to upskill and empower seniors, have used the Powerco Community Fund to help establish rural hubs in Wairarapa, expanding their reach to isolated seniors who currently lack access to their services. As the world increasingly becomes more digitised, improved digital capability can lead to greater independence and improved access to services and social activity.
Booktown
From speakers to performers and workshops to book signings, the Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival has something for everyone. Bringing people together over a shared love of books and stories, the festival connects readers to authors and storywriters to storytellers. More than a series of literary events, festival organisers hope to get more people reading, writing and telling their stories to build community and connection, which is a sentiment we can really get behind.
Colville Public Hall revitalisation project
Colville Public Hall used their funding to help improve the accessibility and aesthetics of the hall’s outdoor space, making it safer and more welcoming for all. The hall was first established in 1931, and remains a vital rural community facility, hosting various local events, meetings, gathering and activities for the entire community.
Hauraki reuse centre
The Hauraki reuse centre mission is to enable and encourage people to reuse and repurpose e-waste rather than sending it to landfill. They used their funding to save e-waste from going to the landfill by recycling and repairing items in their workshop. All products are tested and tagged to ensure they are safe and sold for affordable prices to provide low cost access to household goods.
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