News and Blog Hub

A new suspension bridge over the Whangaehu River is making the Te Araroa Trail safer and more enjoyable for walkers, thanks in part to support from Firstgas. The 120-metre bridge, near Whanganui, has officially opened, providing an important new connection along New Zealand's 3,000-kilometre walking trail.

Funding from Firstgas, part of Clarus has helped a Taranaki waka ama crew take on some of the world’s best at the International Va’a Federation World Sprint Championships in Singapore.The crew competed in the Master Women’s 40-50 age group division in a W12 event at the championships in August, representing Taranaki on the international stage.

It’s good news for New Zealand’s electricity system as we head into the final months of 2026. Transpower’s latest Energy Security Outlook shows national hydro storage sitting well above historic averages at 133%, with South Island storage at 142%.

The Government has announced it will remove one of the costs that holds back gas storage development in New Zealand. Currently, developers pay royalties for ‘cushion gas’, which sits in an underground storage facility to maintain total gas pressure. Cushion gas can’t be sold or extracted, but currently requires a 5% fee to be paid on its estimated value.

Wondering what all the different items are on your gas bill? We can help with that. Let’s break down what your typical gas bill looks like, what the main line items mean, and what useful extras are included. What are the line items on your natural gas bill?

If you’re building or renovating, you might be thinking about the best choice for heating water. Gas hot water, electric hot water cylinder, heat pump, or solar – there are lots of options.

When your business needs fast, consistent and controllable energy, natural gas can be a great choice, which is why more than 16,000 New Zealand businesses rely on gas. For many businesses, gas provides energy that is responsive and easy to control. It can heat large spaces, cook with precision and provide continuous hot water, generate steam and support industrial processes that require high temperatures.

When New Zealand's energy system needs gas at short notice, one of the country's most important energy assets - the Ahuroa Gas Storage Facility (AGS) is like a giant underground energy battery, quietly working behind the scenes to help keep the lights on across the country.

New Zealand has abundant renewable energy resources. So why do we still need gas? Because electricity can't do every energy job, and renewable generation doesn't always meet demand when it's needed most.

For a while now in New Zealand, the energy conversation has felt like an all-or-nothing choice. Gas or electric. Commentary often talks about going fully electric, and many homeowners are left wondering what that means for the things they genuinely enjoy - cooking with a flame, instant hot water, a cosy gas fire on a cold winter’s night, or firing up the barbie with friends and family.

Gas has been in the headlines a lot lately and has likely left you with questions - Is gas running out? Why has the price of gas gone up? And why do we need gas if we have renewable electricity? Here are answers to the questions we hear most often.

Every rider comes to Riding for the Disabled with their own abilities, challenges and goals. Through tailored programmes and interaction with horses, riders can build physical strength, confidence, independence and meaningful connections with others.

A new report by Transpower highlights the challenges faced by New Zealand’s energy sector as demands on the system increase and new types of generation expand.

Two young BMX riders from New Plymouth are heading to the world stage, to represent New Zealand this year at the 2026 UCI BMX World Championships in Brisbane from the 17-25 July. Firstgas, part of Clarus, is proud to support brothers Luca, 11, and Finn, 9 who are competing internationally.

At Firstgas, part of Clarus, we're investing in the long-term health of our pipeline network. In Awakau, Taranaki, our team completed a complex repair on the Maui pipeline using innovative BISEP technology, the first time this tool has been used in New Zealand.

Installing a new kitchen? Adding a bathroom? When you’re renovating your home, gas is something thousands of Kiwi’s wouldn’t be without. Whether it’s cooking with a real flame, reliable hot water, or instant warmth on a cold winter night, gas continues to play an important role in everyday life.