Latest news with #ZEnergy
NZ Herald
04-08-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Northland boosted with jet fuel tank, dry dock, rail link announcements
'A commercial dry dock will bring specialist skills and international customers to NZ, maintaining large ships in a manner that a maritime nation desperately needs,' Peters said. Estimated to cost $500 million, the dry dock will enable large ships and ferries to be serviced in NZ. A report by Northland Inc suggested the facility could create an additional 1135 jobs and generate an income of $290m a year by 2060. Peters said procurement is close. 'We are getting closer to finalising procurement of a provider for the Regional Infrastructure Fund part-funded dry dock at Northport, which offers the best harbour in NZ as it is deep, there is plenty of land, and transport connectivity is only going to get better. 'As an exporting nation, we need strong connections for shipping lines and Northport offers the efficient shipping connections to bolster port services in Tauranga and Auckland.' Peters also announced the Marsden Point Rail Link will be open for discussions with investors and potential builders. The link, estimated to cost at least $300m, will provide rail to Marsden Point and Northport. 'We are pleased to confirm that KiwiRail will open discussions, under commercial agreements, on its Marsden Point Rail Link design data for investors and builders – informing the best approach for building and funding this project,' Peters said. He highlighted the importance of Marsden Point to the country. 'The burgeoning energy, export and economic powerhouse of Marsden Point means NZ will prosper with much needed jobs, trade, manufacturing and economic development.' A recent NZIER report commissioned by Northland Corporate Group found Northland could become a $60-billion-a-year economy by 2050 through such projects. Jones pointed to the new fuel tank, a collaboration between Channel Infrastructure and Z Energy, which will store more jet fuel before it is sent to Auckland Airport through the pipeline spanning Marsden Point to Wiri. The tank will provide an additional 30 million litres of fuel - enough for the equivalent of about 10,000 flights between Auckland and Wellington, he said. Channel Infrastructure, which stores and distributes 80% of all NZ's jet fuel, is investing up to $30m over two years for the tank. Z Energy is also increasing storage at Marsden Point, Jones said. 'While this on its own is great news for NZ's fuel resilience, other initiatives being undertaken here such as the potential development of sustainable aviation fuel, the upcoming construction of a bitumen import terminal, diesel peaker and biorefinery make Marsden Point a world-class proposition,' he said. 'As I announced earlier this year, I am particularly interested in how we, as a country, develop these areas further and attract investment into our regions. 'I will be taking a paper to Cabinet soon on the use of special economic zones (SEZs) to do just that. With attractive regulatory regimes and tax treatment, SEZs could be the fuel that really gets NZ's economic engine roaring,' Jones said. More to come
NZ Herald
17-06-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Help for those helping hardest-hit
Dave Letele's urgent advice for the charities changing NZ lives. Dave Letele's work stories should come with a warning: readers are advised they may find this article distressing. To that though, the founder of the BBM foodbank and motivational charity would probably say: 'tough'. This is the way life is for many New Zealanders today. Letele, a community ambassador for Z Energy (Z), shares a story that moved him recently. 'There's a grandmother in Manukau trying to keep her grandkids together. The mum's going through addiction, the father's in prison. She begged me for help – not asked, begged. 'So I went there, and she felt she had to prove to me just how poor she was. She opened up her fridge. It had half a dog roll and a packet of chuck steak and the cupboard had an empty box of Weet-Bix and a bottle of cooking oil. What's she going to do if it's not for groups like us? If not for all these community groups that are on the ground, helping everyone that needs a hand? 'When I started working there, it was hard in our community and it's just got so much harder. There's more demand and less support. 'I keep thinking, what would be the cost if groups like BBM can no longer continue? What would be the cost to New Zealand?' Another true story. 'A lady messaged me saying, there's a young family getting searched by the police outside her house. They searched the kids' schoolbags and all they pulled out was food. 'That's where things are at. If we want to improve our society, we've got to support the groups that are on the ground to have an impact and watch what can be achieved.' It's why Letele is passionate about encouraging groups to apply for help from Z's Good in the Hood. The company's flagship community programme that has been running for over a decade and in recent years, has distributed $1 million annually to more than 500 groups across the motu, ranging from food security and youth development to safety and wellbeing. Applications for Good in the Hood 2025 are open from June 3-29. To apply, groups simply need to fill out an online form saying who they are, what they do and how they support the community around their local Z. Z stresses the groups don't need to be a registered charity – the programme backs all kinds of non-profit, purpose-led mahi. Each participating Z station gives away $5000, split between four different groups in their community, chosen by that local Z team. Customers vote for the groups in-store from August 26 – September 21, and the money is then divided according to the votes for each group. The programme aims to increase support for Māori- and iwi-led organisations too, as internal reviews highlighted they are under-represented in funding statistics. In 2023, Z began working with Letele to improve outreach and access to those groups. As part of its commitment to funding equity across all Z's social investment, the company also runs the Regional Boost initiative, with an emphasis on supporting Māori and using the index of deprivation to guide additional funding to communities with the greatest need. Letele knows the power of Good in the Hood from the grassroots all too well after he originally applied for funding for his foodbank. A few years on, Z supports the running costs, fuel and leases for his South Auckland-based BBM programmes covering food security, motivational courses, fitness and wellness initiatives, and for him to become Z's Community Ambassador. 'If you just take our food bank, which we've had to scale down a little bit, we're helping 100 families every single week, and an average family is between five and 10 people. And then you've got our gyms where we run three to five classes per day, which are all free. Our health programmes do anything from getting people off the couch to helping people with multiple long-term health conditions. 'A JB Were economic impact report showed that $13 is returned for every $1 invested, which is a massive return. We're impacting literally thousands of people every week.' But, Letele says, 'We know there are many other organisations out there in the community, and perhaps they don't know where to go or who to talk to, to get some help for their work. 'We have a really good profile and it's still hard for us to get funding. Imagine what it's like for groups that are doing just as much work but don't have the public profile we have. 'That's the benefit of Good in the Hood. Not only can those groups receive donations, but it gets the word out about the work they're doing. They're engaging with the public who are coming into the service stations. A lot of the time, people wouldn't have heard of many of these groups, so it's a great way for them to be able to get their name out there, and for people to learn about what they do, as well as the funds they receive. It's something for everyone to build on.'
NZ Autocar
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Z Energy to increase EV charger rates this month
Z Energy has announced it will raise prices on its nationwide EV charging network from the 24th of June. Per-kWh rates will rise from 79 cents to 88 cents. It also raised them this time last year. The increase will take effect from 24 June 2025, and will apply for both fast and ultra-fast chargers across the Z network. The company says the price hike reflects higher wholesale electricity costs, along with rising transmission and distribution charges. Meantime, the New Zealand Herald reports today that lake levels in the North Island are high after all the rain. Those in the South Island are at 91 per cent. That indicates that repeats of last year's winter power price spikes are unlikely. That's especially with more geothermal energy production on line, and substantial reserves of coal available. Gas reserves, however, are down by 27 per cent compared with last year. Z isn't the only EV charging operator raising prices. Many have announced price increases in 2025, including ChargeNet and Meridian's Zero network. They cite similar cost pressures tied to energy market volatility and infrastructure upgrades. According to Z, the typical EV driver who takes on around 22kWh per charging session can expect to pay $2 more per visit. Home charging remains the most cost-effective option for many EV owners. But fast/ultra-fast public charging continues to play a vital role in supporting longer journeys. It is also essential for urban users who don't have a home charging alternative.
Techday NZ
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Techday NZ
Z Energy launches Z Rewards offering new loyalty incentives
Z Energy has launched a new loyalty programme called Z Rewards in partnership with Eagle Eye, a loyalty SaaS and AI technology provider. The Z Rewards scheme allows customers to earn points on almost all transactions at Z sites, ranging from fuel purchases to food, coffee and EV charging. Points accumulated through the programme can be redeemed for a range of in-store items. Customers have access to Z Rewards via the Z App, which provides a minimum of 6 cents off per litre, up to 100 litres, each day. Under the scheme, users receive one point for every dollar spent on fuel, and two points for every dollar spent in-store or on EV charging. With 500 points, customers are eligible for rewards such as coffee, pies, sausage rolls and cans of energy drink. During the programme's March launch, participating customers were offered 20 cents off per litre on their first three fills, each up to 100 litres, a complimentary barista-made drink and an instant bonus of 300 points. The programme also offers a referral scheme, providing members with an additional 300 bonus points for each friend they refer. Bronwyn Barberel, Head of Loyalty at Z Energy, described a positive reception to the launch, citing significant uptake among customers using the Z App to access Z Rewards since its rollout. "Z Energy launched our new loyalty programme, Z Rewards, as a way to better recognise and reward loyal customers for more of their spend at Z, beyond fuel," she said. "We've seen thousands more customers download and use the Z App to access Z Rewards since it launched, and it's been great seeing them all collect points and get treats. We have heard plenty of positive feedback from customers – and so far, Z pies have been the top choice of treat for our customers who've taken advantage of this part of our offer. We've had some great new pies on offer. "We are excited about the future of Z Rewards and remain committed to giving our customers an excellent loyalty offer." Andy Baird, General Manager for Customer at Z Energy, said the broadening of the loyalty programme beyond fuel reflects the company's evolving business focus. "The evolution of the Z service station means along with providing fuel for customers, we are continuing to grow our network of EV charging stations at selected Z sites, and expand our grocery and convenience offers in-store," he said. "It's important, therefore, that our loyalty offer evolves with us. Z Rewards does just that – offering customers points for almost all of their spend at Z, from fuel to food and coffee, through to EV charging." Jonathan Reeve, Vice President for APAC at Eagle Eye, noted the partnership with Z Energy is timely within the context of global changes in fuel and convenience loyalty programmes. "Eagle Eye is seeing rapid innovation globally in fuel and convenience loyalty, as retailers adapt to shifting consumer expectations and look to capture new opportunities, whether through EV charging, expanded grocery ranges, or value-added services," he said. "In our view, Z Rewards is emerging as a global leader in this space. The programme stands out for its ability to reward customers however they shop and whatever fuel they choose, the clever use of popular 'treats' as incentives, and its differentiated approach to rewarding fuel versus grocery purchases. "We're proud to be partnering with Z and are excited to support the next chapter of their loyalty journey - bringing even more value to consumers across New Zealand." Z Rewards is available to all New Zealanders through the Z App, enabling users to earn rewards for various purchases at Z Energy locations. The company positions the programme as a way to say thanks to its customer base.
NZ Autocar
22-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Autocar
New fuel brand U-GO drives down pump prices
Z Energy has launched a new self-service fuel brand. It offers Kiwis a low-cost alternative at the pump. Early signs suggest it's already shaking up the market, according to Autotalk. The company announced the launch of U-GO on March 20. It is a fuel-only station model that strips out extras like shops, loyalty programmes and fuel cards. It therefore delivers what it describes as a 'fast and convenient self-service model'. 'We are seeing an increasing number of Kiwis who want a simplified, low-cost fuel and go option,' Z customer general manager Andy Baird says. 'The U-GO network will help us meet these customers' needs. 'We've identified a small portion of our existing network where we believe a self-service fuel station would benefit our customers, and we are working to turn these into U-GO branded sites. 'This will allow us to provide a consistent offer under the one brand. U-Go here is similar to Ampol's self-serve fuel business in Australia. Ampol owns Z Energy. 'U-GO will bring greater competition into the self-service fuel retailer market in Aotearoa, and we think that's great news for Kiwis,' Baird says. The first U-GO site opened in April, with Z confirming more locations are in development. 'Launching U-GO is about acknowledging there is an opportunity to evolve our offers to meet a variety of customer needs. As we grow the U-GO network, our Z-branded network will remain strong. 'Both brands have distinctly different offers that will appeal to different customer bases,' Baird says. On May 19, the U-GO station in Waikaraka, Auckland, was listed as offering the lowest price for 91 octane petrol in the country. Gaspy reported pump price of $2.29.7 per litre. The emergence of U-GO comes as traditional low-cost players like Gull face stiffer competition. Gaspy data showed the price gap between the national average and Gull's average had narrowed in recent months. Some Auckland stations now offer nearly identical prices to U-GO. Z Energy says U-GO will remain focused on localised, competitive pricing as it expands its presence across the country.
