Social Responsibility
We have a range of social responsibility focused programmes and initiatives. To learn more about them, check out the information
below:
First Foundation
A lack of funds, role models and knowledge about study options prevent some New Zealand students from achieving their full potential.
First Foundation offers a unique four-year scholarship programme that provides talented students from low-decile high schools with tertiary fee assistance, paid work experience, and one-on one mentoring.
Telecom is the Principal Sponsor of the Foundation, who has provided this 'hand up' to 189 young New Zealanders since being established in 1998.
This year we have further increased our support by committing to sponsor 12 new scholarships across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
To date, we have 17 First Foundation scholars working within the group.
For more information on First Foundation, please visit www.firstfoundation.org.nz
Environmental responsibility
We recognise the importance of environmental responsibility because our employees are part of local communities and we also believe excellence in environmental management has a big part to play in Telecom's own long-term success.
Our corporate environmental activities include recycling, waste minimisation, power saving and fuel reduction initiatives. These are supported and promoted by employee volunteers - named "EcoRangers". We're also examining our carbon footprint to identify further opportunities to incorporate sustainability practices into our supply chain and procurement systems.
Power saving, re-use, scrap and recycling e-waste are key areas of focus in relation to our network assets. At a consumer products and services level, we have a mobile phone recycling programme and also promote remote working and video/audio conferencing as a means of reducing the use of fossil fuels.
Past recognition for Telecom's environmental initiatives have included an EnergyWise Award from EECA (2004) and a Target Zero Annual Merit Award from Christchurch City Council (2004).
Find out more about our commitment to the environment.
Sustainable development and ShapeNZ
Telecom is a member of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development which believes sustainable businesses are profitable and strives to take care of the environment and people - and improve New Zealanders' quality of life. The Business Council's members jointly employ more than 55,000 people and members contribute annual sales of $33 billion to the economy, equivalent to 28% of GDP.
With Telecom's assistance, through its membership and other support, the Business Council researches policy options which it then advocates to Government and other decision makers. Your responses to ShapeNZ surveys will directly help shape policy recommendations. The Business Council runs a national online survey panel, ShapeNZ, to allow public input on major issues.
Special Needs Assistance
We offer a range of products and services that can help make life easier for customers who have a disability. Some services are specifically designed for customers who have a disability, whilst others have wider appeal but are especially useful for those with a disability. Find out more.
Disaster Relief
When disaster strikes, Telecom provides support to affected communities by making our resources and expertise available and working 24/7 to restore communications to homes and businesses, often in challenging conditions such as the South Island snowstorm in 2006.
Most recently, Telecom provided support for the Philippines flooding, Samoan tsunami and Australian bushfires, in the form of free calling to each country, and matching dollar-for-dollar employee donations.
In Samoa, Telecom also provided roaming mobile phones for the Red Cross and NZ High Commission to help Kiwis. Chorus, Telecom's network business, is also helping with the rebuilding by providing telecoms equipment.
Internet safety and discouraging bullying
Telecom works with relevant authorities to ensure a "no tolerance approach" to the use of the Internet or communications technology in a way which is harmful or hurtful to New Zealand children.
If you receive frightening, abusive, rude, harassing or unwanted texts or calls:
- Don't reply to any messages or contact that number
- Make a note of the date and exact time you received the last four unanswered messages (or calls) from that person
- Call Telecom's Call Investigation Centre on 0800 809 806 between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday
We also have a long-standing relationship with the Stop Bullying campaign - which is part of the New Zealand Police Youth Education Service's Kia Kaha programme taught in primary and secondary schools. We support the campaign through sponsorship of pamphlets advising parents, caregivers and young people on how to deal with bullying.
Telecom has supported the Internet Safety Group - Netsafe - and New Zealand Police Youth Education Service's production of a pamphlet for parents called Keeping Kiwi Kids Safer in Cyberspace (PDF 181KB).
Check out our tips for safe Internet use.
For more information visit www.nobully.org.nz or you can download all nine versions of the pamphlet below.
Mobile safety information
To help our customers choose a mobile and use it wisely, we believe in providing information about safe practices relating to
- Mobile chat rooms
- Using your camera or video mobile
- Text Messaging
- Driving and your mobile
- Nuisance and abusive phone calls
- Planes, movies and mobile etiquette
Find out more about mobile safety.
SAFE
In 2005, Telecom set up a free service enabling Telecom mobile phone users to send a text message to 7233 (SAFE on the handset) in instances where they wish their whereabouts to be recorded. This may include an individual walking home alone at night or someone getting into a vehicle with a driver they do not know. The service was set up after suggestions from the public in the wake of several well publicised incidents.
In the event of someone going missing, the police can request information from the database to help track the movements of the missing person. For each text sent to SAFE, Telecom records the date and time the message was sent, as well as the mobile phone number and message content.
Find out more about SAFE.
Mobile content code of practice
Telecom is a member of the New Zealand Telecommunications Carriers Forum which has developed the Code of Practice for the Provision of Content via Mobile Phones ("Code"). This industry code is designed to ensure we provide you content on mobile phones in a socially responsible manner, and help protect minors from inappropriate content. The Code deals with commercial mobile content, internet content, illegal content, unsolicited bulk communications, and malicious communications, and includes information on what to do if someone disagrees with a Restricted/Unrestricted content rating (see Schedule 2).
Find out more.
Mobile phone sites
Telecom has more than 1.3 million mobile phone customers and more than 750 mobile phone sites throughout New Zealand. While most sites are built without any problem, we know the location of mobile phone sites can cause concern within local communities. Recognising this, we have developed a number of commitments to give people an understanding about what we consider when determining the placement of mobile phone sites.
Find out more about our mobile phone sites (PDF 117KB).
Budget Link
We work with the New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services, to provide a low cost phone service for families getting their finances in order with the assistance of budget advisors affiliated to the Federation.
Festive Cheer
Every Christmas we run a company-wide food bank collection, with Telecom matching employee contributions.
In 2008 the programme resulted in five tonnes of food being collected for charities such as Salvation Army, City Missions and local food banks.
In Australia, we dedicated our Festive Cheer programme to collecting for the Smith Family in support of disadvantaged families. Our Christmas collection points were filled with toys, books and food hampers, and the company made a cash contribution of $30,000.
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