Latest news with #ZEnergy
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.
Newsroom
20-05-2025
- Business
- Newsroom
Z Energy looks to ‘top up' the supermarket conversation
At Z Energy's service station in Karaka tinned tuna and crackers are selling well, as are a range of ready-to-eat meals. Eggs – a new addition to the store – are sticking around on the shelves, as is tinned fruit salad. The station's operator Wayne Kennerley suspects the latter is not selling as well because it doesn't have a pull tab like the spaghetti, and needs a can opener. 'Suddenly it means that it's actually not that convenient. Whereas Watties' spaghetti, I can open it, heat it up in the microwave and I've got a cheap lunch, a snack or even dinner. 'What we've learned is we've got to fail fast. Because you're tying up product, which does date.' Kennerley, who operates 17 Z sites in south and east Auckland, is at the sharp end of Z's move to diversify its business by expanding its presence in the 'top-up' grocery market. Wayne Kennerley says we've learned we've got to fail fast. Photo: Eugene Bingham Z isn't going to rival the likes of Woolworths or New World but it's keen to see more competition in the grocery sector. 'We think we've got an opportunity to bring consistency for those 'top-up' shops, which is largely made up of small independents such as dairies,' Z CEO Lindis Jones says. Z believes moves by governments to increase competition in fuel retailing have worked well and could be applied to the grocery market. In March the Government launched a request for information to hear from investors and prospective grocery market competitors about possible barriers to entry, along with obstacles to growing at scale in the market. Submissions will inform policy decisions on potential regulatory changes and support for new entrants or those looking to expand their current offering. The request followed a 2022 market study by the Commerce Commission into New Zealand's retail grocery sector, which found the market is dominated by Foodstuffs North Island, Foodstuffs South Island and Woolworths New Zealand. Nicola Willis, Finance Minister, said in March that she had sought external advice on a possible break-up of the main players to help accelerate competition. The Government is open to a range of 'interventions' in the sector to make it easier for a third national competitor, she said. 'Competition between these players is muted, and if competition in the market was stronger, consumers would benefit from better pricing, quality and range of grocery products,' the Government's request reads. 'New Zealand grocery prices appear high by international standards and the scale and pace of innovation is lower than would be expected from a more competitive market.' Jones says visibility in wholesale pricing increases compatibility and drives competition. The Fuel Industry Act 2020 is an example of this working in practice and is a piece of legislation Jones says the grocery sector can learn from. 'I think the first thing is clear and transparent wholesale pricing. How that actually works will vary from industry to industry, but we know that it has made a material difference to competition in the fuel industry.' Z Energy is already a major player in the 'top-up' grocery market, with 80 retail sites already offering a top-up grocery range and plans to roll this offering out more Z sites over the course of the year. Jones says the service stations are 'not there to compete with the role of supermarkets' but rather to offer an alternative to the local dairy for motorists in need of breakfast cereal to take to the office, or a missing ingredient for their dinner recipe. Jones says with around 180 locations, Z competes more with independent dairies and convenience store chains such as Night 'n Day than supermarkets. It isn't the third player being sought by the Government in its bid to enhance competition in the grocery market, however, with 180 well-located sites around the country and around a million transactions a week, Jones says Z can play a role in improving the choices for consumers. The company is targeting customers looking for convenience in between their large weekly shops. 'It could be when you run out of something and we're the closest place to go … That could be something for your dog, your cat, your child, or it could be a treat like chocolate or coffee. Another occasion could be on the way home where you know you've forgotten something, whether that's something you need for your meal or something you need for your family.' Z's strategy is stocking one of each type of good, rather than stocking multiple brands. Stock differs store to store based on the area and customer demand – inner-city stations may sell more snacks or personal hygiene goods while those in residential areas, particularly those with a dearth of supermarkets, would sell more pantry top-ups such as sugar, or milk. Around one in four Z stations have electric car chargers, which works hand in hand with a grocery offering. Customers are on the forecourt and the wider site for longer, so have time to look around the store.
