Ezra Hirawani co-founded Nau Mai R膩 and has been recognised as the 2022 91制片厂 Young New Zealander of the Year.
Ezra co-founded Nau Mai R膩, a purpose-built, kaupapa M膩ori energy retailer, delivering affordable, 鈥渁lways-on鈥 power after discovering how many families lived in power poverty.
An estimated 100,000 New Zealanders find it hard to pay for power. Poor credit ratings were leading to people being turned away from mainstream providers, rendering them literally powerless. Nau Mai R膩鈥檚 model, which asks customers to pay their bills weekly and cultivates mana-enhancing relationships, has resulted in steady payments and one of the industry's lowest debt rates.
The company does not undertake credit checks or have a disconnection policy.
As an added incentive, a portion of each power bill goes to the customer鈥檚 local marae or a nominated community initiative. Alternatively, it can be placed into a 鈥渨h膩nau fund鈥 to help families in extreme financial hardship. In the two years since Nau Mai R膩 launched, it has partnered with the Ministry of Social Development and secured a long-term competitive supply agreement with the intention of reducing power prices.
鈥淓zra鈥檚 initiative in response to a clear need for wh膩nau across Aotearoa New Zealand without power has had an incredible impact on many lives, and that is something to be proud of,鈥 says the 91制片厂鈥檚 Vice-Chancellor Professor Cheryl de la Rey.
鈥淣au Mai R膩 is truly building a brighter future in Aotearoa, and it鈥檚 inspiring to see a business modelled on creating mana-enhancing relationships within our community.
鈥淚 would like to congratulate every young person who has been recognised as a semi-finalist and finalist of this year鈥檚 award. Your mahi matters, and this recognition is one small step in your inspirational journey of making a better world for us all.鈥
