With winter rapidly approaching and concerns growing around energy hardship, the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ (ARFNZ) is thrilled to announce its continued partnership with community-owned power, gas and broadband company Pulse Energy.
Pulse Energy has re-signed as a Gold Sponsor in ARFNZ’s Friends of the Foundation programme. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Pulse Energy. The Pulse Energy team shares the Foundation’s vision of wanting all New Zealanders to live in warm, healthy homes. This commitment is clear through award-winning initiatives like their Pay it Forward Programme and its depth of commitment to the Foundation over the two years of its partnership,” says Chief Executive Letitia Harding.
“As we receive no Government funding, generous sponsors, like Pulse Energy, are essential to our daily work in research, advocacy and education for the 700,000 Kiwis living with respiratory conditions,” Ms Harding explains. “Pulse Energy has embraced our vision and gone above and beyond in their support over the past year.”
Since stepping up as a Gold Sponsor last year, Pulse Energy has supported a public webinar for World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day and its CEO Sharnie Warren undertook a personal challenge for the Foundation’s Breathe Better September fundraising campaign, walking 10,000 steps every day throughout the month.
Pulse Energy Chief Executive Sharnie Warren says her team are motivated by personal connections to the Foundation’s goals. “Many of us, including myself, have family with respiratory conditions like asthma, so we understand the importance of the Foundation’s work. Pulse Energy is also very aware of the value of warm, dry homes in improving respiratory health. As a community-focused power company, we want to do all we can to ensure that Kiwis can be healthy in their homes.”
Pulse Energy’s Pay it Forward Programme provides financial support for their customers facing energy hardship. It enables vulnerable households to heat their homes and create a healthy living environment, which is crucial for those living with a respiratory disease.
Respiratory disease is the third most common cause of death in New Zealand, and accounts for 1 in 11 of all hospital stays. It costs the country more than $7 billion annually. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world, with these rates particularly high amongst Māori, Pacific peoples and those living in poverty.
