Our purpose is to support education, research, and advocacy work that will have a positive impact on the lives of Kiwi consumers.
Our independence is our strength.
We ensure that projects can demonstrate a measurable impact before being funded, and that projects aren’t unduly influenced by a philanthropic or corporate funder.
We only support high-impact projects, and do not fund operational costs. Our focus is ensuring that Consumer NZ is able to produce high impact work that make New Zealand a better place for consumers.
Our funding process
Consumer New Zealand provides a project proposal to the Foundation for a discrete piece of work they would like support with.
- The Foundation trustees evaluate the impact that the project will have, and the return on investment forecast from any funding.
- If a project meets the criteria for receiving funding, the Foundation trustees commit to funding it.
- If the trustees decide that a project is worthy of more funding than the Foundation can provide, the Foundation then engages with philanthropic and corporate funding sources to ensure Consumer New Zealand has the resources needed to make the project a success.
- The Foundation provides oversight of the projects it funds, ensuring they meet the objectives outlined in the proposal.
Our impact
We fund the award-winning Consume This podcast, which won a gold medal for best climate podcast at the 2022 NZ Podcast Awards.
Consume This unpacks the big issues facing New Zealanders today: from fast fashion and the housing market, to the world of data privacy and more. An episode inspired by Consumer NZ's Right to Repair campaign was adapted into a TV episode by 'Fair Go'.
Sue Kedgley
Sue Kedgley is a consumer, safe food and women’s advocate and writer. She is on the boards of the Midwifery Council and the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand and is a Co-Convenor in the National Council of Women New Zealand. She is a former Green MP and Wellington City and Regional Councillor, and is the author of seven books, including ‘Eating Safely in a Toxic World.’
Robert Aitken
Robert is a Professor of Marketing at the Otago Business School, University of Otago. Robert's current research focuses on two major areas. The first is marketing to children and the ways in which commercialisation and the promotion of materialistic values are influencing the nature and experience of childhood. The second is in relation to sustainability and consumption and how areas such as corporate social responsibility and business ethics can reconcile the tensions between business imperatives to make profit and social concerns to protect resources. Robert has extensive governance experience as a Chair and Executive Member of not-for-profits including Consumer NZ, the Fortune Theatre Trust, Third Age Trust, Age Concern Otago, Age Concern NZ and Save the Children.
Tom Harris
Tom has been serving the Waitemata community for many years and is the General Manager for the Waitemata Community Law Centre. He leads a talented and passionate team of lawyers and non-legal staff that are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring individuals in our community have an access point to justice and quality legal services.
Tom is proud to serve as a trustee on executive boards which affords him the opportunity to support services that help the marginalised and disadvantaged.
Tom is also an adviser to many government agencies including the New Zealand police and courts as well as many social agencies.
Jon Duffy
Jon is CEO of Consumer NZ. He has made a career of fighting for consumers. He has a deep interest in sustainability and the environmental impacts of consumption, data ethics and promoting equity.
Jon was previously the Assistant Privacy Commissioner, Head of Trust & Safety at Trade Me and worked as a Senior Investigator at the Commerce Commission.
Get in touch
Email: info@consumerfoundation.org.nz
PO Box 932
Pipitea
Wellington
6140