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BNZ appoints Head of Maori Business

Thursday 8 September 2011, 8:46AM

By BNZ

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WAIKATO

Bank of New Zealand has today announced the appointment of Pierre Tohe, of Waikato descent, as Head of Maori Business, a new role at BNZ.

Mr Tohe’s appointment further bolsters the already strong relationship between BNZ and Maori that, to date has seen BNZ provide a wide range of funding and financial advice for a diverse set of Maori business ventures across industries including agribusiness, commercial property and geothermal infrastructure.


“We’re living in unprecedented times in Aotearoa. As Treaty of Waitangi claims are settled we’re witnessing the largest transfer of wealth from the Crown balance sheet to Maori in our lifetime. This huge economic shift will need support from the local banking industry and I firmly believe BNZ has the ability, desire and right attitude to provide this support” says Mr Tohe.

According to Te Puni Kokiri – the Ministry of Māori Development – the total asset base of the 2010 Maori economy stood at $36.9billion – a massive increase of $20billion from 2005/6.

Mr Tohe believes the appointment of a Head of Maori Business represents the formalisation of an ingrained culture of support for Maori business at BNZ.

“I’ve been with the bank for nearly eight years now and I see a genuine desire to promote Maori business excellence. BNZ is involved in a number of initiatives and events such as the Ahuwhenua Trophy and Maori agribusiness scholarships at Massey University and this involvement, at all levels, is only going to grow.”


BNZ Head of Institutional Banking, Shelley Ruha says the new Head of Maori Business role will play an essential part in helping shape future directions for the bank in this sector. “The significance of this appointment cannot be underestimated; we believe Maori business interests in New Zealand are set for a period of substantial growth, and BNZ, with Pierre Tohe’s knowledge of banking and Maori business will be a great advantage in the years to come” says Ruha.

Pierre Tohe has been with BNZ for nearly eight years as a Senior Corporate Lawyer and will bring to the position a solid background and well established networks within the Maori community.

Mr Tohe holds a Master of Laws and is fluent in te reo and has already been involved in many initiatives across BNZ including running Maori language and protocol training for senior staff. In addition, Mr Tohe is involved in the New Zealand Maori Law Society and tribal and marae initiatives for his iwi, Waikato .

The next 12 months are set to be busy for Mr Tohe as he works closely with the BNZ Partners and Retail businesses and iwi across the country.

He turanga hou mo te Pēke o Aotearoa – He Upoko mo nga Pakihi Maori

Kia hiwa ra, kia hiwa ra! Kua whakatūria e te Pēke o Aotearoa tētehi turanga hou hei arahina atu te rautaki a te Pēke o Aotearoa mo nga pakihi Maori. Kua oti te kupu o te pēke nei ko Pierre Tohe, no Waikato, hei Upoko mo nga Pakihi Maori.

Ma te kopounga nei nga hononga i waenganui i te Pēke o Aotearoa me ngai Maori e whakakaha ake. Kua kitea noa mai te awhina me te tautoko kua toroa atu e te Pēke o Aotearoa ki nga pakihi Maori e mahi ana i roto i nga ahuatanga mo te ahuwhenua, nga ngāwhā, nga whenua pakihi, me ngētehi atu umanga.

“Ko enei ra e ora ai tatou, ehara i te hanga. Kua whati te mata o te tai. E hoki mai ana nga rawa huhua mai te Karauna ki te iwi Maori. Ma ngai Maori ratou ano e whanake, a, ma nga pēke hoki te iwi Maori e awhina. Ki taku nei titiro kei a BNZ te whakāro, te koronga, te ngākau reka, nga pukenga hoki hei awhina a ngai Maori ki te tutuki i ngā ratou wawata.”

E ai ki Te Puni Kokiri – i te tau 2010 he $36.9bn te rahi o nga rawa a ngai Maori. Kua nui ake tenei mai i te $6.9bn i nga tau 2005/6.

Ka whakapono a Pierre ko tona kopounga he tohu kua kowhatungia i roto i te Pēke o Aotearoa te ngākau reka me te tautoko tika mo nga pakihi Maori.

“Kua tata waru tau te roa he kaimahi ahau mo te Pēke o Aotearoa. Ki taku titiro e aro atu nei te pēke ki te iwi Maori kia whanake ake i nga pakihi Maori. Ka tautoko te Pēke o Aotearoa i te whakataetae Ahuwhenua, ka whōatu he tahua ngore ki ngētehi tauira i Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa , ka aha hoki, ka aha hoki. Ko te tumanako kia tipu ake ta matou tautoko mo enei momo mahi.”


Ka tino tautoko a Shelly Ruha, BNZ Head of Institutional Banking i te kopounga nei . Ka mea mai ia “The significance of this appointment cannot be underestimated; we believe Maori business interests in New Zealand are set for a period of substantial growth, and BNZ, with Pierre Tohe’s knowledge of banking and Maori business will be a great advantage in the years to come”

Kua tata waru tau te roa he roia a Pierre mo te Pēke o Aotearoa. Kei runga i a ia enei pukenga me ona hononga i waenganui i te iwi Maori.

Kua riro i a Pierre te tohu paerua i roto i ture. Ka taea hoki e ia te korero Maori. Kua uru ia i roto i nga umanga maha i te pēke nei, ko nga akoranga reo tena, ko nga akoranga tikanga tena, ko nga whakatuwhera whare tena, ko nga wananga mo nga kaimahi Maori tena. Kua uru ano hoki a Pierre i roto i nga mahi mo Te Hunga Roia Maori o Aotearoa, mo tona iwi , mo tona marae hoki.

He nui āna mahi mo te tau e heke mai nei. Ko āna whakatāuteute, kia mahi ngātahi me nga kaimahi i roto i te Pēke o Aotearoa me ngai Maori puta noa i te motu.