| 39 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Matai Pacific Iwi Collective From left, Tom Heeney (Matai Pacific GM Orchard Operations and Owner EHC Management) personally manages Pacific Gold 28.13Ha Sungold site, Leaaepeni Fui (Orchard Superisor - Pacific Gold), and Alex Shortcliffe (Orchard Manager 9 Te Matai Orchards & Coachman Orchard 72Ha). Banking on sustainability At Westpac NZ, we’re focused on helping our customers to achieve their goals. For our farmer and grower customers, that increasingly means supporting them to make sure their operations are resilient for the future. Westpac has banked Mātai Paci ic Iwi Collective since the kiwifruit collective was formed and we’re proud to stand alongside them as their banking partner. From day one, the collective has been focused on embedding sustainability principles into its business – ensuring sustainable economic returns; the wellbeing and development of employees; and acting as a kaitiaki of the land the kiwifruit orchards are planted on. In 2024, Mātai Paci ic Iwi Collective joined Westpac’s Sustainable Farm Loan, looking to benchmark its sustainability objectives against best practice. The Sustainable Farm Loan is a whole-of-farm solution that provides discounted lending rates in return for customers working to meet the requirements of the Westpac Sustainable Farm Standard – a standard that encourages on-farm sustainability and resilience practices. As part of the process of joining the Sustainable Farm Loan programme, Mātai Paci ic Iwi Collective documented initiatives it had already undertaken, including partnering with the Bay of Plenty regional council to create a biodiversity wetland area and working with Plant and Food Research on a biodiversity monitoring trial. In addition, the Collective identi ied areas where further mahi could be done, including mapping the waterways the collective’s orchards are connected to and looking at how to build capacity and capability for Māori in the kiwifruit industry. Je de Malmanche, Corporate Agribusiness Manager, says working with Mātai Paci ic Iwi Collective over the years has been extremely rewarding. “It’s fantastic to be able to support the aspirations of an organisation whose values are aligned with ours. Mātai Paci ic Iwi Collective is investing in the future wellbeing and prosperity of its people, the Bay of Plenty region, and the broader kiwifruit industry, and we’re really proud to play a small part in that journey.” Westpac congratulates Mātai Paci ic Iwi Collective on recently being recognised as a inalist in the 2026 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards as well as a inalist for the Ahuwhenua Trophy, Excellence in Māori Horticulture award. If you’re interested in learning more about the Westpac Sustainable Farm Loan, visit www.westpac.co.nz/agribusiness/sustain able-farm-loan or get in touch with one of our bankers for a chat. TOGETHER GREATER We have a proud history of working with and supporting local communities throughout New Zealand. As a large New Zealand business and employer, we touch the lives of around 1.5 million customers, 5,000 employees and communities nationwide. GET IN TOUCH Accounts & Cards Credit Cards Home loans KiwiSaver & Investments Personal Loans Insurance Foreign Exchange Private Bank How can we help? 0800 500 655 westpac.co.nz Proudly Supporting Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective It’s our responsibility to help where we can. We aim to support our customers to become financially secure. Through sustainable business practices, we invest-in and care for the places we live so that our people and communities thrive and succeed.
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