“Sustainability – improving the land so our next generation is taken care of – is vitally important.” Rob Tiopira, Te Manawa o Tuhoe Trust CEO.

Te Manawa o Tuhoe had the ambition to grow their businesses and provide employment for their people, as well as enhancing the environment. They worked with ASB to develop a solution to increase compliance on their 265 hectare Ruatoki dairy farm with the Rural Environmental Compliance Loan and to fund forestry equipment and machinery through ASB Asset Finance - developing Te Manawa o Tuhoe into a flagship operation for Maori agriculture.

In 18 months Te Manawa o Tuhoe has gone from employing three people to employing about 50 locals. Chief Executive Rob Tiopira says ASB understood the relationship the iwi wanted with a bank, and were able to put together a package that ensured the iwi’s ambitions were fulfilled.

Watch the video to hear Rob share more about this successful partnership.