Sustainability is integral to the delivery of our vision to create a new energy future and is embedded within each of our strategic pillars. Our sustainability agenda is lead from the top and we have established a Sustainability Committee of the Board. The purpose of the Sustainability Committee is to assist the board in fulfilling its responsibilities and objectives in matters relating to implementing sustainable business practices and Vector’s role as a responsible corporate citizen; this includes but is not limited to, environmental performance and opportunities, community engagement and investment, diversity & inclusion, ethical business practices & human rights and sustainable supply chain practices.
We are active members of the Sustainable Business Council and Sustainable Business Network, and have been involved in the Sustainable Business Councils work stream on sustainable leadership.
Sustainable Growth
We are committed to creating sustainable returns for our shareholders and managing our business responsibly to ensure that our long term financial and non-financial performance meets the needs of our many stakeholders. Our sustainable growth strategy is supported by strong governance and a continued focus on enhancing financial performance and risk management. New technology is transforming our industry worldwide. While we continue to leverage our heritage and invest in our existing assets, we are leading change through innovation and developing new options that will allow us to build a strong business for today and tomorrow.
Customer Focus
Our focus on innovation is strongly linked to our commitment to deliver value and exceed customer expectations. We provide the infrastructure for more than one million New Zealanders’ energy needs. Through exploring new technologies, such as commercial and residential batteries, solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations and home energy management systems, we are ready to meet the changing needs of our customers. We can offer our customers greater choice and control over their energy requirements and enable them to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
Partnerships
Our ability to meet changing customer requirements is strengthened through our focus on developing strategic partnerships with global companies that have complementary expertise and interests. Through engaging and collaborating with strategic partners, we are not only developing innovative options for our customers but also strengthening our capacity to more efficiently manage our network.
Safety, People and Culture
Our people and culture are central to our success. We aim to provide a safe, inclusive and great place to work, that values diversity and forward thinking and attracts and develops talented people who are passionate about energy and leading change. We see this as fundamental to unlocking creativity and innovation and creating the type of organisation our customers and partners want to do business with.
Operational Excellence
Our emphasis on operational excellence includes continuing to strive for efficiency improvements and managing our impact on the environment and the communities in which we operate. We are proud of the role we have in supporting the individual wellbeing of New Zealanders’ through the delivery of essential services, effective emergency management and response, and through our contributions to the community. It’s a role we take seriously, and to which we are wholeheartedly committed.
Environment
Vector strives to be recognised as a leading environmentally responsible company. Our Environment Policy sets out the principles for us to conduct our operations in such a way as to respect and protect the natural environment. Accordingly, we are committed to continual and progressive improvement in our environmental performance. This includes taking account of legislation and standards, as well as setting out the standards expected of all employees and contractors of Vector Limited and its related companies.
At Vector we understand the importance of valuing gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability and age diversity within our workforce and attracting candidates from a rich array of backgrounds. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in both our Diversity and Inclusion Policy and our Code of Conduct and Ethics.
Code of Conduct & Ethics
At Vector we are committed to acting ethically and responsibly. Our Code of Conduct and Ethics sets the ethical standards expected of all Vector people including our directors, employees and anyone acting on our behalf.
Our Code is intended to embody our vision and values, and provides a practical set of guiding principles to help us make decisions in our daily jobs. Ensuring that we behave in a professional manner that enables us to act in the best interests of Vector as well as our customers and society.
Vector’s schools programme
Teaching kids about energy use and keeping them safe.
Improving public safety and developing young minds is something we're both committed to and passionate about at Vector, which is why we work closely with primary and intermediate schools to teach kids how to stay safe around our networks and assets, and how to use energy efficiently.
Our award-winning 'Stay Safe around Electricity' and 'Be Sustainable with Energy' schools programme is offered free of charge to schools within our Auckland electricity network and links directly to the New Zealand Curriculum. The programme runs in Years 3 to 8 in Auckland schools, and since 2005 has educated more than 125,000 children.
Communicating safety and sustainability messages through schools allows us to engage with children in a way that leaves a lasting impression and encourages them to share their learning with family and friends as active persuaders at school, home and out in the wider community.
Visit
vectorschools.co.nz for more info.
Vector Technology Challenge: inspiring young minds
In 2014 Vector held its first Vector Technology Challenge with six inner city schools in Auckland. It has now grown to a regional event involving schools in central, north, east and south Auckland.
The event invites small teams of children aged 9-11 to push the boundaries of creativity, problem solving skills and team work, finding solutions and cognitive skills through short, fun technology-focused challenges.
Supporting the University of Auckland
We have an ongoing relationship with the University of Auckland. We sponsored and participated in the Business School’s 2016 Sustainability week, participating in events including a panel discussion on cultural sustainability and diversity. Our chairman, Michael Stiassny was a panellist at a discussion on the importance of sustainability to Auckland at the University in the lead up to the 2016 local elections.
Future of Energy Competition
In 2015, Vector, with the support of Entrust gave a few lucky families, community groups and schools a total of 130 solar panel and battery units to use for free for 10 years. Aucklanders nominated and voted for the most-deserving and favourite winners in their local communities. We installed our first system at Rongomai School in Otara in early May 2016 and are working on installing the remainder of the systems to our deserving winners.
Community of Interest
Our solar panel and battery installations are helping our communities, while broadening our understanding of the technology, and the benefits it can deliver to the whole country. We are working with the residents of an affordable housing development on Ngāti Whātua land in Ōrākei. The Ngāti Whātua Kāinga Tuatahi development covers 30 housing units and is the first residential cluster in New Zealand to install batteries. Our installation of solar and battery systems is aligned with the hapū’s commitment to environmental well-being and sustainable design principles. Kāinga Tuatahi will give us insights in to the benefits, a cluster of batteries and solar systems can deliver to network development.
Employee Engagement in the Community
Employees in each of our offices regularly support the community through fundraising, volunteering, awareness raising and collections. Recent events included a clothing drive at each of our main locations across the country to support local charities, and a Christmas collection to collect gifts for the Salvation Army wishing tree campaign, as well as deserving families in Taranaki.
We’ve also supported tree planting days where members of our Vector team have joined forces with Treescape to plant 2,500 trees on Rotoroa Island to help protect the natural beauty and growing native ecosystem on the island, and with Ngati Whatua Ōrākei to plant trees on Auckland’s Bastion Point.
A number of employees also actively engage with Eat My Lunch with many ordering their lunches 1-2 times a week and encouraging the use of their catering service for team events. There are also monthly volunteering sessions organised for those that want to help make the lunches.