Manaaki Energy was established in 2020 by the Office of the Māori Climate Commission and our inaugural chair, Sir Toby Curtis in response to the findings of widespread energy poverty by the Energy Price Review Report. The review highlighted the extent of energy hardship and poverty amongst a significant number of whanau, 100,000 at that time (since revised upwards to 130,000 by the Energy Hardship Report), 1600 annual kaumatua deaths and widespread respiratory disease amongst tamariki.

Manaaki Energy looks to support the energy needs of the 75% of Māori whanau who do not own their own home and those who are in energy hardship. Māori can now take the power into our own hands.