AWARDS FINALIST: Trust Tairāwhiti & Seven Rivers – Empowering schools with energy resilience

In the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, energy resilience became more than a goal - it became a necessity for remote schools across Tairāwhiti.

Through engagement with schools, one principal suggested that the project could also enable electricity resilience through off-grid battery storage.

Trust Tairāwhiti responded with a transformative initiative that combined solar power, battery storage and social procurement to deliver long-term benefits to four kura on the East Coast.

The project was initially scoped to provide sustainable heating for school pools to extend their swimming season by a couple of months each year.

After talking to schools, Trust Tairāwhiti broadened the vision to enable electricity resilience through off-grid battery storage. It provided $3.5 million for the project to heat the pools, deliver clean, reliable energy, reduce operational costs, and empower schools to become energy producers.

The programme saw solar and battery systems installed at Tolaga Bay Area School, Hatea-A-Rangi School, Te Kaupapa o Te Waiu o Ngāti Porou, and Te Waha o Rerekohu Area School.

Each system was tailored to the school's needs and included energy-efficient upgrades like pool heat pumps and modern switchboards.

But the project's impact extended beyond infrastructure.

Guided by kaupapa Māori values, Trust Tairāwhiti and Seven Rivers embedded social procurement into every stage. They partnered with Tū Mai Rā Energy, an iwi-owned enterprise, and prioritised local contractors to ensure investment stayed within the region and supported Māori capability building in the energy sector.

The initiative also introduced a community energy-sharing platform through Our Energy, allowing schools to donate or sell surplus power. This circular model not only builds energy equity but also fosters a sense of pride and leadership within the kura.

The benefits have been tangible and wide-reaching. Schools now enjoy greater energy independence, with some able to remain operational during outages.

Energy bills have decreased, freeing up funds for wellbeing initiatives, and swimming seasons have been extended, improving water safety and student confidence.

And real-time energy dashboards have become tools for classroom learning, sparking student interest in sustainability and science.

The initiative has also strengthened relationships between schools, with principals sharing insights and forming a community of practice around energy resilience.

For Trust Tairāwhiti and Seven Rivers, the project reaffirmed the power of procurement as a tool for equity and regeneration.

Both organisations have since embedded social procurement metrics into their internal processes, ensuring every project is assessed for its broader impact.

The annual Energy Excellence Awards will be held in Wellington on 13 August. The Social Procurement Award is sponsored by Elemental Group.