News and Blog Hub

Fresh, seasonal vegetables are a joy to cook, and natural gas makes it easy to bring out their best flavour. With instant heat and precise temperature control, natural gas cooking helps vegetables caramelise quickly, retain their colour and texture, and taste naturally delicious.

While many professional chefs swear by cooking with gas, plenty of Kiwi home chefs love it too. From weeknight dinners to weekend feasts, natural gas delivers fast, precise heat and the control that makes cooking more enjoyable at home.

New Zealand’s first ever hydrogen blending pilot was carried out in Te Horo on the Kāpiti Coast from June to early October this year. Led by Firstgas (part of Clarus), the pilot involved blending green hydrogen with natural gas into the existing natural gas pipeline.  

Renewable electricity supplies most of New Zealand’s power, but its availability can vary and as the energy system evolves, having a range of options will help support a smooth transition and ensure energy remains available, affordable, and reliable when it matters most.

New Zealand has an abundance of sunshine, wind and water, which means we can produce plenty of renewable energy. So why do we still use gas as a backup for our electricity grid?

Whether you’re catering for a workplace Christmas party, organising an end-of-year client function, or getting your venue ready for the busy hosting season, creating a smooth, stress-free experience is essential and cooking with natural gas is often the energy of choice for chefs.

Before you break ground on any summer project, remember to check for underground utilities first at beforeUdig.co.nz. This free, easy-to-use online service provides information on the location of cables, pipes and other assets beneath your property.

A multi million upgrade to the Firstgas compressor station at Kaitoke is now substantially complete, on schedule and within budget. Two state-of-the-art compressors from the USA have been installed, commissioned, and are ready to be brought online in early 2026.

There’s been an exciting development for Aotearoa New Zealand’s energy future and for our growing renewable gas industry.

Renewable gas keeps gaining momentum. Let’s take a look at some of the recent developments from around the world.

For generations, Kiwis have trusted natural gas to keep their homes warm, their water hot, and their meals cooking. Behind that reliability lies a rich history of innovation, discovery and a commitment to delivering energy New Zealanders could depend on through changing times.

The days are getting longer, the weather is warming up, and it’s the perfect time for some spring cleaning. Get your home ready for summer entertaining, whether that’s hosting the big match, drinks with the gang, or a birthday party for one of the kids.

Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of welcoming Tim Costley, MP for Ōtaki, along with our pilot partners GasNet, Nova Energy, Powerco, Vector Limited, Te Horo community board members and GasNZ, to the Te Horo Hydrogen Blending Pilot site and display home.

Every day, natural gas travels quietly beneath our feet, powering homes, businesses, and industries across the country. Most of us never see the pipelines that make this possible, but ensuring their safety is a constant challenge.

At Clarus and Firstgas, we’re committed to supporting initiatives that have a practical and meaningful impact on our communities where we operate, through our community partnership fund.

Firstgas, along with project partners GasNet, Nova Energy, Powerco and Vector, recently announced that in a New Zealand first, the Te Horo Hydrogen Blending Pilot has reached a 10% hydrogen blend, a key milestone for this pioneering project.