Westpac's journey of support with Givealittle

Westpac NZ introduced Givealittle payroll giving in 2017, to make it easier for employees to support causes that matter to them. Sarah Hearn, Westpac NZ General Manager Product, Sustainability & Marketing, says the process makes it simple for Westpac staff to make regular donations to charities of their choice, with more than 70 charities currently benefitting each year through the Westpac programme.

“Enabling payroll giving is an important part of helping our people contribute to their communities in a way that’s meaningful for them,” Ms Hearn says.

One of Westpac’s 2027 sustainability commitments is to invest $30million in the community, including employees using 100,000 hours of volunteering leave, between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2027.

“As part of this community investment commitment, we match donations made by employees to charities of their choice through Givealittle payroll giving,” Ms Hearn says. “Last year, we were able to match close to $100,000 in donations.”

“We also support Westpacers to give back by providing all employees with two days volunteer leave each year to lend a helping hand to community initiatives of their choice. Our people play a huge role in Westpac’s annual Chopper Appeal – this year we helped to raise a record $1.5million for the national network of rescue helicopters – and we have a range of other partnerships that support community investment.”

Afiafi Leala is a Senior Manager Learning Governance & Systems with Westpac and has been using Givealittle payroll giving for a number of years

Ms Leala says: “I’m proud to be part of an organisation that gives back and Westpac makes it incredibly easy for me to support causes that are close to my heart, such as KidsCan. An added bonus with payroll giving is having donations matched by Westpac and the tax credits automatically calculated. It's a bit like setting up an automatic payment into a savings account; I can set it and watch it flow, all while knowing that I’m playing a role in supporting Aotearoa’s children and others who need a hand.”

What do others say about Payroll giving?

“Payroll Giving offers EY people a simple, optional way to support charities and causes they care about”.
EY New Zealand

"When the most vulnerable children need hope, UNICEF is there. As the world’s leading children’s charity, we deliver lifesaving aid in emergencies and create long-term solutions that lift kids out of poverty. But we can’t do it alone. Thanks to our incredible monthly payroll givers, we can respond the moment children need us most.

For example, just $15 can provide 26 packs of therapeutic food for a child suffering from severe acute malnutrition and can help bring a child back from life-threatening wasting,”

Jayne Rowley, UNICEF Aotearoa Director of Fundraising and Marketing