Z Energy’s Good in the Hood: Community support in action

Z Energy’s (Z) flagship community programme, Good in the Hood, is back for 2025 with community voting open from 26 August until 21 September.

Good in the Hood is designed to make a meaningful difference at a local level. Every year, Z contributes $1 million to support hundreds of non-profit community groups throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2024 alone, around 500 community organisations benefited from the initiative.

Originally launched in response to the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, Good in the Hood has since provided over $10 million to thousands of deserving recipients—empowering local heroes who know their communities’ needs best.

Abbie Bull, Z’s Head of Community and Sustainability says Good in the Hood is a key annual initiative for Z that allows a deep connection with the communities we operate in.

“In addition to supporting the important mahi each community group is undertaking, this programme enables us to create meaningful and enduring relationships within the communities in which we operate.”

“Good in the Hood also allows us to support communities in a way that removes common barriers to accessing funds, such as lengthy applications and the requirement to be a registered charity,” says Abbie.

Good in the hood is an opportunity for groups to not only receive funds, but to share their mahi with customers in the community they serve. Z is for Aotearoa New Zealand, so we believe in supporting the things that matter in our local communities. By empowering local communities to make funding decisions, this hyper-local initiative embodies Z’s belief that meaningful change begins at the grassroots level—underscoring Z’s proud commitment to Aotearoa New Zealand.

How Good in the Hood voting works

Each Z service station will give away $5,000, shared with four local non-profits.

During the campaign period, 26 August to 21 September, customers can vote at their local service station for the non-profit group they’d like to support most. With each purchase at Z, customers are given a token that allows them to vote instore for their favourite community group.

Based on customer voting, the $5000 is shared among those four non-profit community groups. The final results and funding allocations are then announced in October.

Showing up for the Wiri community

In Wiri, there are three Z stations participating in Good in the Hood – Z Wiri Station Road, Z Roscommon Road, and Z Browns Road.

Wiri Z Retailer, Leatuao L Tupa’i-Lavea says Good in the Hood isn’t simply a month-long programme once a year – it’s the start of a relationship that carries on for the rest of the year and beyond.

“I’m Pasifika, so I think of a Z station like a fale, a meeting house, and everyone around it is part of its village. We service the people around us, so whoever is part of our fale, our marae, our whenua, those are the people we are trying to get on board.

“It’s all about building community and helping raise the profile of the groups involved. It’s a very holistic way that I look at it as a business owner connecting with the community through this wonderful programme” says Leatuao.

Z Wiri Station Rd’s chosen community groups participating in Good in the Hood are; Look Good Feel Better, BirdCare Aotearoa, Auckland Volunteer Fire Brigade, and The Aunties.

Z Roscommon Road’s chosen community groups are; Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support, Genesis Youth Trust, Barnardos Clendon Early Learning Centre, and Elevate Family Camp (Elevate Christian Disability Trust).

Z Browns Road chosen community groups are; Caring Families Aotearoa, Genesis Youth Trust, Elevate Family Camp, and Radio Lollipop.

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