AWARDS FINALIST: Beach Energy – a quintessential Taranaki partnership

Through a shared vision of supporting the Taranaki community, Beach Energy has formed a unique partnership with the Taranaki Community Rugby Trust.

Rugby is a core part of Taranaki’s identity. By working together, Beach and the trust are supporting Taranaki children to get involved in community rugby at a young age while instilling values to last a lifetime. 

The farm

Established in 2008, the trust brings together dairy farming, rugby and the gas industry with the goal of maximising participation, health, welfare, and safety in rugby for young people in Taranaki.

The trust was looking to acquire a working dairy farm in 2008, where the revenue generated could be used to fund community grassroots rugby. At the same time, the original owners of the Kupe natural gas processing plant were looking for a custodian for the 160 hectares of surrounding farmland.

After taking over the operatorship of Kupe, Beach reviewed this arrangement with the trust and recognised it could do more to support its work. Beach continued to lease its farmland at a 50 per cent market rental reduction. All funds generated by the dairy farm go back to grassroots rugby, including community clubs and schools, education and providing coaching opportunities. That lets the region’s rugby clubs focus on the children rather than raising funds.

A key part to the partnership is the leased farmland and a focus on ensuring the land is both productive and sustainable. Significant work has been undertaken by Beach and the trust to ensure the farmland meets environmental standards and hits all sustainability targets.

Achievements

The trust has contributed $1 million to the Taranaki community since the partnership formed and has purchased two additional dairy farms to support their funding initiatives.

As a result of the partnership, the trust has been able to distribute just under $400,000 to the community during the past two years.

Player registrations are increasing and over 22,000 participants have been engaged through schools, clubs, holiday programmes, after-school sessions, and fun days.

The partnership enabled improved riparian planting along the natural waterways on the farm.

Beach believes it isn’t just about funding rugby – “sport provides children with key skills and values important to their character development, including teamwork, leadership, respect, and discipline”.

Beach has also worked with the trust to continue to develop its business to ensure a long-term future.

The relationship is an example of true collaboration of people passionate about their communities and keeping rugby alive and well in the Taranaki region.

The Community Initiative of the Year Award category is sponsored by Eagle Technology