For the December 2023 issue of our ICCNZ Newsletter, we’re pleased to showcase how some of our members are carrying the ‘spirit of giving’ and making a difference all year round. Here, Anthony Harper talk about their commitment to community engagement and social responsibility with a range of impactful initiatives – from pro-bono legal services through to community support and art sponsorships.

At Anthony Harper, our goal is to be an engaged and active contributor that gives back to the communities in which we operate. This year, we’re proud to have had a positive impact on communities across Aotearoa New Zealand in several ways.

Providing pro-bono legal services

In late 2022, we introduced a formalised pro-bono policy with a minimum contribution goal for 2023. This enables our people to provide pro-bono legal advice to charities and not-for-profit organisations that create significant positive impacts on our community, which this year included Bellyful, the Sir John Kirwan Foundation, Lighthouse Vision Trust, and Aviva.

Devastating weather events hit the country at the beginning of 2023, so we utilised our experience acquired in aiding individuals in Ōtautahi/Christchurch dealing with the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes, by extending pro-bono legal assistance to our clients and their employees in the Hawkes Bay impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. Our support included providing advice related to insurance claims for flood-damaged properties and homes and supporting the New Zealand Claims Resolution Service to assist homeowners who have suffered natural disaster damage.

Sponsoring arts and community events

We are proud of our long-standing support of the arts in Ōtautahi/Christchurch and Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland. For over 20 years, Anthony Harper has been the major sponsor of Christchurch City Council’s Summer Theatre series, a free community event in one of the city’s landmark parks or gardens. The upcoming season (11-28 January 2024 at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens) promises to be as entertaining as ever with a comedic adaptation of The Odyssey, staged by local theatre company Noosed Octopus. Visit the Summer Theatre website

Anthony Harper was the proud foundation sponsor for Pop-up Globe in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, bringing Shakespeare to more than 350,000 New Zealanders and creating the spin-off Pop-up Moot in collaboration with the University of Auckland’s law school. Recently revived following its success in 2016-2020, our support allows Pop-up Globe to run accessible priced tickets for schools at dedicated performances, helping to bring live Shakespeare to as many schools and students as possible. In 2024, Pop-up Globe is returning with Twelfth Night and Romeo & Juliet, running from 10-25 February at SkyCity Theatre. Visit the Pop-up Globe website

Social enterprises and community support

We’re committed to supporting local services with a social mission, by empowering marginalised groups and providing opportunities for vulnerable members of the community. In Ōtautahi/Christchurch we use Can Do Catering and Thrive to cater many of our in-house events, two local social enterprises employing people with disabilities and care needs and providing learning experiences, jobs and a brighter future to people facing hard times.

All client and staff gifts are sourced with sustainability in mind, so for Christmas 2023 we are providing staff with candles from Downlights, a charity that offers employment opportunities for young adults with Down syndrome or learning disabilities. We also partner with Dignity toiletries, an award-winning social enterprise that provides period products to food banks, youth groups, teen parent units and more, to uplift those affected by period poverty.

We’re also committed to encouraging our people to actively engage with our communities, through volunteering initiatives including planting trees for Synlait and cooking meals for Bellyful. The introduction of a paid volunteer day means our people can group together to positively contribute and help make a difference in the communities we live in.

If you’re interested in learning more about Anthony Harper and how we can help you and your business, please get in touch with Alex Campbell and Giuliana Petronelli.