Air New Zealand launches $1 million Every Corner Project to support community nature projects
Funded through the airline's Climate and Nature Fund, the Every Corner Project aims to support grassroots efforts by communities - big and small - to improve, protect or restore local environments across New Zealand.
Applications will be assessed by Air New Zealand's 20 domestic port teams, who are part of these communities themselves. Each team will oversee applications within their broader region, ensuring funding reaches even remote communities beyond Air New Zealand's network - so that every corner of the country is included.
From Thursday 27 February, registered charities, schools/kura, iwi and hapū can apply for funding to support projects such as:
- Planting native trees and plants
- Establishing native gardens, food gardens or beehives
- Reducing food waste from landfill eg. composting
- Nature and/or climate education
- Predator control
- Restoration/regeneration of oceans, beaches, mangroves, wetlands and waterways
Air New Zealand Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Kiri Hannifin says: "Air New Zealand is deeply connected to every corner of Aotearoa, and all parts of our business are intrinsically connected to and reliant on nature.
"The Every Corner Project recognises the growing role Air New Zealand wants to play in supporting local communities to drive meaningful change for nature. As an airline we have a comprehensive programme of work focused on decarbonising our own operations, but we also want to help make a lasting difference outside of aviation in the regions we serve."
A key focus of the Every Corner Project is ensuring funding reaches regional and rural communities that often have limited access to sustainability funding.
"Every part of Aotearoa has its own unique environmental challenges and opportunities," says Hannifin.
"We'd love the Every Corner Project to be a great example of what business and Kiwi communities can do together to nuture our very unique and precious environment now and into our future."
How it works:
Applications open on Thursday 27 February and close on Monday 31 March 2025. Applications must be made online via airnz.co.nz/everycorner
Recipients will be announced by Friday 9 May 2025, with projects rolling out throughout the year.
ENDS
Issued by Air New Zealand Communications
Email: media@airnz.co.nz │ Phone: +64 21 747 320
About Air New Zealand:
Air New Zealand's story started in 1940, first taking to the skies between Auckland and Sydney on a flying boat - a Short S30. Known for its warm Kiwi hospitality, today, the airline has operating aircraft ranging from Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A320s to ATRs and Q300s, offering customers comfort in the latest most efficient jets and turboprops. It's a modern fuel-efficient fleet with an average age of 8.7 years. Air New Zealand's global network of passenger and cargo services centres around New Zealand. In 2023, the airline flew more than 16 million passengers. Air New Zealand was named 2024 World's Safest Airline by the Australian rating service AirlineRatings.com, highlighting the airline's laser-focus on safety and won Best Corporate Reputation in New Zealand in 2023 – the 9th year in a row.
Air New Zealand has a well-connected domestic business, connecting customers and cargo to 20 different regions around New Zealand. Internationally, the airline has direct flights to major cities across Australia, Asia, the Pacific Islands and the US, and through its strong relationships with alliance partners, offers customers more choice and convenience to connect further afield to hundreds of destinations. Air New Zealand has a particular focus on sustainability and its Sustainability Framework helps guide the airline's efforts in tackling some of New Zealand's and the world's most complex challenges. Airpoints, Air New Zealand's loyalty programme, is seen as the most valuable loyalty programme in New Zealand with more than 4 million members. It allows members to earn Airpoints Dollars™ and Status Points for VIP benefits in the air and on the ground. Air New Zealand aircraft are proudly identified by its distinct tail livery of the Mangōpare, the Māori symbol of the hammerhead shark which represents strength, tenacity, and resilience.
About Star Alliance
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey.
The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United.
Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 16,000 daily flights to almost 1,200 airports in 186 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partners Juneyao Airlines and THAI Smile Airways.
For more information about Air New Zealand visit www.airnewzealand.com and for more information about Star Alliance visit www.staralliance.com