Biodiversity funding

MainPower has teamed up with the Waimakariri Biodiversity Trust to deliver the Waimakariri Biodiversity Fund.

This is a brand new contestable fund, offering up to $10,000 to support local projects that enhance biodiversity in the Waimakariri region.

We’re here to help. Get in touch if you need help. Or, check out our FAQs.

MainPower Waimakariri Biodiversity Fund

Do you need funding for a biodiversity enhancement project in the Waimakariri? This fund is available to support local biodiversity initiatives. Complete the online form below, or download the interactive pdf, complete it, and email it to office@wbt.org.nz before 5:00 p.m., Friday 16 May.

If you have any questions about the fund, please contact Kate O’Brien at the Waimakariri Biodiversity Trust by email office@wbt.org.nz.

Applications open Monday 14 April and will close on Friday 16 May. Please read the Notes for applicants before beginning your application.

You can find out more about the Waimakariri Biodiversity Trust at www.wbt.org.nz.

MainPower Hurunui Natural Environment Fund

MainPower works with the Hurunui District Council to deliver
the MainPower Hurunui Natural Environment Fund. The $10,000 fund is designed to encourage and assist voluntary work that benefits the natural environment in the Hurunui, with a focus on work that protects, restores, or reinstates indigenous biodiversity in our district.

Applications open on Monday 14 April 2025. 

To can find out more about the fund please visit the Hurunui District Council website.

Current funding projects

Read more below about the current MainPower funding projects.

Title for project

In conjunction with sponsorship partner the North Canterbury Sport & Recreation Trust, the MainPower North Canterbury Sports Awards celebrate the region’s best sporting talent. Over 300 guests attend the gala dinner with winners announced in 16 categories, covering all aspects of sport from players to administrators and long term service awards at all levels from grass roots to success at an international level. The MainPower Youth Sports Scholarships are also announced at the event.

Title for project

MainPower provides funding support to enable sport coaching sessions in 42 primary schools throughout North Canterbury, in conjunction with its partner the North Canterbury Sport & Recreation Trust. The programme’s lessons teach fundamental skills through to more sport specific skills, depending on the needs and interest of the school and their students. The programme ignites interest and links to local sports clubs and organisations and provides an opportunity for relationship building, teamwork and personal development in a physical setting.

Title for project

MainPower seeks to ensure that all primary school children in the region have the opportunity to learn to swim and achieve water safety skills that will equip them with the knowledge of how to survive in the water. Through a partnership with the North Canterbury Sport & Recreation Trust, Kiwi Sport, Southern Trust and the Waimakariri District Council, the MainPower WaiSwim Programme delivers swimming lessons 40 regional schools each year.

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Want to learn more about MainPower

MainPower has been distributing electricity to the North Canterbury region for around 100 years.

Outage notifications

WEATHER RELATED OUTAGES - updated 12.00pm 29/10/2025

We’re making great progress restoring power across the network. Currently there are 85 customers without power, but we have a large number of crews in multiple locations again today.

We will have a helicopter operating in the Hurunui Mouth area around midday today. The helicopter is a twin engine and is carrying out complex river crossing repairs. It will be travelling low and slow, and it will be quite loud.

Please keep the area clear so our teams can carry out these urgent repairs to restore power to the area.

Estimated restoration times are regularly being uploaded to the Outage Map.

If you have any concerns or questions, please call our customer service team on 0800 30 90 80.

TREAT ALL POWER LINES AS LIVE AT ALL TIMES. Please stay away from any downed lines and report any sighting to us on 0800 30 90 80.

For the most recent updates on outrages, please check our outage map. To report an outage, call 0800 30 90 80.

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.

Is your outage not listed?

Troubleshoot your outage
Treat all lines as live during the outage period; power may be restored at any time. If you require further information, please call MainPower’s 24-hour faults line. To report an emergency, call 111.

Outage notifications

WEATHER RELATED OUTAGES - updated 12.00pm 29/10/2025

We’re making great progress restoring power across the network. Currently there are 85 customers without power, but we have a large number of crews in multiple locations again today.

We will have a helicopter operating in the Hurunui Mouth area around midday today. The helicopter is a twin engine and is carrying out complex river crossing repairs. It will be travelling low and slow, and it will be quite loud.

Please keep the area clear so our teams can carry out these urgent repairs to restore power to the area.

Estimated restoration times are regularly being uploaded to the Outage Map.

If you have any concerns or questions, please call our customer service team on 0800 30 90 80.

TREAT ALL POWER LINES AS LIVE AT ALL TIMES. Please stay away from any downed lines and report any sighting to us on 0800 30 90 80.

For the most recent updates on outrages, please check our outage map. To report an outage, call 0800 30 90 80.

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.

Is your outage not listed?

Troubleshoot your outage
Treat all lines as live during the outage period; power may be restored at any time. If you require further information, please call MainPower’s 24-hour faults line. To report an emergency, call 111.

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