Trust Tairāwhiti + Seven Rivers

Trust Tairāwhiti and Seven Rivers led a region-wide initiative to deliver solar, battery, and energy-efficient upgrades across four remote East Coast schools following Cyclone Gabrielle. Driven by community need and funded by Trust Tairāwhiti, the project embedded social procurement from the outset, prioritising Māori-owned suppliers, local contractors, and community energy-sharing through Our Energy. The result: long-term energy resilience, reduced costs, extended pool access for tamariki, and empowered kura as local energy leaders. This initiative exemplifies how infrastructure can uplift people and place when procurement is guided by kaupapa Māori, collaboration, and a commitment to regional wellbeing.