Heartlander The
NEWS FROM HEARTLAND BANK
JANUARY 2018
A life to look forward to in retirement Award-winning auction action Inspiration from Chelsea Winter’s latest cookbook
Heartland Bank customer John Maskell
Hello As we head into a new year, I am pleased to introduce myself and excited to be part of the Heartland Bank team
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y name is Mel Cadman and I am the new Head of Retail, currently overseeing a number of areas including reverse mortgages and term deposits. Darryl Harnett, who many of you know as the face of The Heartlander, is focusing on other areas in our business and I am thrilled to have the chance to be involved with this fantastic publication. I enjoyed having the opportunity to meet some of you at our AGM last year, and hope to meet more of you on my travels to our regional offices. On behalf of my team, and all of us here at Heartland, I’d like to thank you for your patience as we implemented our new core banking system. We realise it hasn’t all been smooth sailing, particularly when it delayed the dispatch of customer communications. We have also received a considerable amount of feedback about internet banking and we are looking at ways to improve it, so please watch this space. We recently introduced a new promotion – Boost Saver – to market, and it has been very well received. Boost Saver is an ideal way to save, offering a healthy 3.25% p.a. boost to your savings for four months, after which your funds are available in a flexible, instant-access call account.* I hope you enjoy this latest issue of The Heartlander. I really enjoyed reading about how our reverse mortgage product has improved people’s lives and allowed them to stay in the homes they love. We also take a closer look at some of the Heartland Bank people who make these life changes possible – with a focus on Tauranga this month. Again, I am delighted to become part of the Heartland Bank team. I welcome any feedback and thank you for your support.
1 Southern swagger secures Heartland Bank Young Auctioneer of the Year award Heartland Bank lead sponsor of Auckland Writers Festival Two-way street for young interns
2 Curious about reverse mortgages? Read on to find out how they’re helping Kiwi seniors enjoy their retirement of choice
4 Meet Heartland’s Tauranga team
6 Recipe: This zesty chicken dish bursting with flavour is the perfect complement to a warm summer’s evening
Mel Cadman Head of Retail
*Rate subject to change. See heartland.co.nz for terms and conditions.
Heartland Bank Boost Saver
3.25%
p.a.
for 4 months.
Then funds on call. Current rate at 3.00%* p.a. GRAB THIS OFFER ONLINE OR BY PHONE VISIT
heartland.co.nz/boostsaver
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CALL US
0800 85 20 20
Boost Saver is available for a limited time only and can be withdrawn by Heartland Bank at any time. Minimum deposit $1,000. Heartland’s current Disclosure Statement and terms and conditions are available at heartland.co.nz. *The current call account interest rate is 3.00% p.a. Rates as at 6/12/2017 but are subject to change without notice.
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Fastest mouth in the south It was a case of third-time lucky for stock agent Logan Moore, who was named Heartland Bank Young Auctioneer of the Year at last year’s Canterbury A&P show
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ogan, based out of Lake Mahinerangi near Dunedin, has been working as an auctioneer for the past three years since joining Rural Livestock as a stock agent in 2013. The 26-year-old, well-known for his comedic one-liners, was stoked to win the competition. “I’ve been there two years previously, so it was good to finally win it. As part of the competition, we had to run a couple of mock auctions in the afternoon and I said that my animal was big, black and beautiful – a bit like myself!” He said he picked up his patter from working alongside older auctioneers throughout the Otago region. “I started auctioning at the Balclutha sales and I’ve gone from there. I’m pretty much selling there once a week now. You have to engage with the crowd and I like to have a joke here and there. “On the serious side of things, there’s a lot of money on the line for your clients, so you need to make sure you’re doing your best to get them maximum value. That involves having good knowledge of the stock you’re selling.”
Gift of the gab - Heartland Bank Young Auctioneer of the Year Logan Moore in action
In addition to the mock auctions, Logan and the seven other competitors were interviewed to test their knowledge of the industry and its laws. Logan says he gained a good working knowledge of the agricultural industry while growing up. “I worked on farms and in shearing, and I also ran my own crutching gang for
a while. It has helped me as a stock agent and an auctioneer, because it taught me how to interact with farmers and gave me a good understanding of livestock.” As part of his prize package, Logan won a trip to the Sydney Royal Easter Show in May, where he’ll take part in a charity auction. ■
Words to wonder
Takiwā ako
The 2018 Auckland Writers Festival will bring together 200 of the world’s leading writers and thinkers to celebrate the beauty of words and challenge people’s perceptions
Heartland Bank’s head office became a learning and teaching zone during December
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his year’s festival is expected to attract upwards of 28,000 curious souls and promises something for everyone, with an array of diverse events ranging from showcases of poetry through to political debates, giving those in attendance the opportunity to broaden their literary and literal horizons. As the Platinum sponsor, Heartland Bank is proud to support an event that allows people to engage in substantive conversations about the world around them while helping to keep ink and parchment alive in a digital world. “Heartland is proud to support an event that caters for a diverse range of cultures, interests and age groups,” says Heartland Bank CEO Jeff Greenslade. “Through the world of reading, the Festival connects us with new ideas and reminds us that there’s still value in reading more than the 140 characters so many of us have become accustomed to.” The 2018 Auckland Writers Festival runs from 15-20 May. Ticket details and the full festival programme will be announced on 14 March. To keep up to date with the latest announcements, go to writersfestival.co.nz. ■
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ine students from the InZone Education Foundation spent three weeks as interns at Heartland Bank’s head office in Auckland, gaining valuable insight into the working world. Organised through a partnership between the Heartland Trust and the InZone Education Foundation, the programme is based on the Māori concept of ako, meaning that teachers and students learn from each other. Each intern was assigned to a department and a ‘buddy’, who acted as a mentor and big brother/sister to help emulate the traditional whānau support network. “This internship has given all of us a taste of the corporate work environment and an invaluable learning experience,” said participant Payton Taplin. “For me, it’s been an amazing journey working with the Corporate Communications team. I hope Heartland continues to offer internship programmes, broadening the horizons of the rangatahi to come.” A registered charitable trust, the InZone Education Foundation aims to improve educational outcomes for Māori and Pasifika students giving them access to high-performing state schools within the school zones. ■
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Changing lives Heartland Bank has helped more than 9,000 Kiwis live their retirement of choice through its innovative reverse mortgage product.
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ost New Zealanders have hopes of a long and comfortable retirement, aspiring to a better standard of living than can be supported solely by New Zealand Superannuation. However, it is estimated that 40% of Kiwis aged over 65 rely solely on NZ Super to sustain them. Heartland Bank has been helping retirees close the gap and enjoy a comfortable retirement by giving cash-poor, assetrich retirees the opportunity to release equity held in their homes with a Heartland reverse mortgage. Changing perceptions Heartland Bank entered the world of reverse mortgages in early 2014, when it acquired Sentinel from Seniors Money International. It has since established itself as the country’s market leader and is working hard to ensure it’s known for its responsible lending approach to reverse mortgages. “At times reverse mortgages have had a bad reputation, but our product is designed to change that,” says senior retail manager Lisa Hatfield, who is extremely passionate about the product and the customers whose lives are improved through it. “We’ve put in place a number of measures to ensure customers are making the right choice, that they’re well informed and that they’re comfortable with the decision. Applicants need to seek independent legal advice, are strongly encouraged to speak to family and have a 30-day cooling off period to re-consider.” The loans are also accredited under the Consumer Trusted programme, which recognises Heartland’s commitment to responsible lending principles. Making informed decisions “It’s a big decision and that’s why we treat it as such,” says Lisa. “We’ve been hosting nationwide education seminars and all our staff are committed to educating potential customers. One reverse mortgage customer told us that her independent legal advisor was blown away by how thorough her knowledge of the product was.” Heartland’s reverse mortgage offers flexible user options, including the Monthly Advance Feature, which allows individuals to tailor their loan to suit their needs. Through its promotion of Elder Abuse Awareness Week and relationship with Age Concern, Heartland has also helped to highlight the challenges facing our senior citizens, while also supporting the organisations providing the solutions. Now New Zealand’s largest reverse mortgage provider, Heartland Bank is committed to continually improving its service and giving more Kiwis the chance to enjoy the retirement they deserve. Read John’s story as an example of how a reverse mortgage could allow you to live the life you want. Lending criteria, fees and charges apply.
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MAKING THE It wasn’t until he was over the age of 50 that John Maskell discovered a love of travelling. He’s more than made up for lost time since then, by going on an adventure every few years. Now 76, John continues to enjoy overseas trips and other hobbies – interests he hasn’t had to forego thanks to a Heartland Reverse Mortgage.
“I
never travelled when I was young, but I’ve been intrigued by Antarctica ever since I was a little boy,” says John, who was born on the Mainland but grew up in Auckland. “My sister told me about an information evening on trips to Antarctica and insisted I go. By the end of the night, I had signed up for a 26-day trip on board a ship called the Marco Polo.” John’s intrepid maiden voyage from New Zealand sparked a new-found love of adventure. “It was every bit as spectacular as I’d hoped – I was absolutely out of my tree! In addition to the incredible things we saw, there were lectures about wildlife, oceanography, weather and so much more. “Since then I’ve to been to Bali, India,
“I feel really lucky to have this option available to me – I am living a very comfortable and enjoyable life as a result.”
MOST OF RETIREMENT Mongolia and a number of other places with my partner, as she’s always up for an adventure.” John, who retired from his job selling engineering equipment at 67, says there’s rarely a dull moment in his life as a retiree. Between travelling, taking care of his much-loved 1969 Rover and spending time with his partner’s family, his life is fuller than he could have imagined. However, as savings started to decline about three years ago, John realised that superannuation alone wouldn’t be enough cover his lifestyle, so he decided to take out a Heartland Reverse Mortgage. With his two-bedroom home in the Auckland suburb of Avondale valued at $640,000, Heartland Bank offered him a reverse mortgage for $140,000. “With a Heartland Reverse Mortgage, you only pay interest on the amount you draw down, not the amount you’ve been approved for, so I only draw down $10,000 per year to cover my lifestyle, plus some home improvements and expensive necessities such as new glasses,” says John, who purchased his home more than 20 years ago. He says he can’t imagine living anywhere else. “I love the community and I’ve adapted the house
to suit my needs – I wouldn’t dream of leaving. If the reverse mortgage wasn’t an option, I would have a very different lifestyle, but I wouldn’t move. “I feel really lucky to have this option available to me – I am living a very comfortable and enjoyable life as a result.” ■
Heartland’s three reverse mortgage guarantees: 1. Lifetime Occupancy Your home will remain the place you live in for as long as you choose. 2. No Negative Equity Guarantee The amount required to repay the loan will never exceed the net sale proceeds of the property. 3. Loan Repayment There is no requirement to make any loan repayment until the end of the loan.
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Keeping community at the heart of Heartland Bank
Tauranga is a Māori name meaning safe anchorage or resting place; it’s pretty apt for a spot that has become such a haven for holidaymakers and retirees over the years. Its reputation for sunny weather, golden coastline and natural beauty is well-earned, but if you ask locals what really lies at the heart of the city’s appeal, they’ll just as likely tell you it’s the strong sense of community – one that Heartland Bank has been proud to be a part of for more than 30 years.
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eartland Bank Tauranga has always been committed to giving back to its community. So much so, in fact, that retail banking manager Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell says being involved in local community is “almost a pre-requisite for working here”. “Heartland Bank really is a community bank and its managers emulate that,” says Tracey, who was CEO of Creative Tauranga for 11 years prior to joining Heartland in 2015. “That was a massive drawcard for me and I’ve maintained that focus since I’ve been here.” Representing Heartland Heartland Bank’s community commitment is evident in a variety of sponsorships – from bowling clubs to croquet and from gardening to golf. “Tauranga has quite an active community and we want to
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support that,” says Tracey. “We look to provide sponsorship that resonates with our customers and that has taken different forms over the years. One of my personal favourites was when Heartland Bank sponsored Tauranga resident Alf Rendall’s photo exhibition a few years ago.” Then 97, the seemingly ageless Alf was extremely grateful to Heartland Bank for making his lifelong dream come true – to host a public exhibition featuring his historic collection of Tauranga images. “‘Historic Tauranga from above 1946 – 2006’ ran for five weeks at Creative Tauranga,” says Tracey. “Alf was on hand to add a personal narrative to his black and white images, colouring in the detail from memory. The response was overwhelming. Alf was thrilled at the level of interest and those who visited were fascinated by the visual documentation of Tauranga’s growth, as well as Alf’s stories.”
The Heartland Bank network Tight-knit team Tracey says another reason she was drawn to join the Heartland Bank Tauranga team was the reputation of the business itself and the team at the branch. “It feels good to work for a small New Zealand Bank that focuses on offering services and products that Kiwis need,” says Tracey. “We’re always coming up with something new or improving existing products – it’s nice to contribute to an organisation that demonstrates values you believe in.” There’s no doubt that Tracey, whose main focus is reverse mortgages and term deposits, is passionate about her customers. One of them, Colleen, used her reverse mortgage funds to pay for the cataracts operation she’d been waiting years to have done. Colleen said Tracey made a world of difference by providing amazing support. “Tracey was absolutely lovely to deal with and she made sure I understood everything about the product, particularly the three guarantees*,” said Colleen. “She also encouraged me to speak with my family about it before proceeding, and even sat down with me and one of my daughters to make sure she understood how it worked as well.” Tracey emphasises that her approach is the norm at the Tauranga branch, where all 11 staff are committed to providing outstanding customer service. “Some of our customers have been with us for decades, and they often tell us it’s because of the people who work here and the relationship they have with the bank.” ■
Takapuna 456 Lake Road, Takapuna, Auckland Newmarket 35 Teed St, Newmarket, Auckland Tauranga 24 Devonport Rd, Tauranga Hamilton 411 Victoria St, Hamilton
Wellington 93 Customhouse Quay, Wellington
Christchurch 75 Riccarton Rd, Riccarton, Christchurch Ashburton Temporary premises at 165 Tancred Street
Alf Rendall – described as a “small man with a big persona” – arrived in Tauranga as an infant, and, like his father before him, always had a passion for photography. Heartland Bank was proud to sponsor an exhibition of his life’s work.
*see guarantees on page 3.
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INGREDIENTS •
800g to 1kg boneless chicken thighs
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⅓ cup lemongrass paste (or 4 stalks lemongrass)
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¼ cup peanut oil or neutral oil, eg, grapeseed
Cooking time:
Serves:
15 MINUTES
4
¼ cup roughly chopped fresh ginger
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1 clove garlic
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1 tbsp fish sauce
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1 tsp ground cumin
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1 tsp ground turmeric
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1 cup chopped fresh coriander (leaves and stalks) and mint (or just coriander),
Lemongrass and Ginger Chicken Prep time: 10 MINUTES PLUS 3+ HOURS MARINATING TIME
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plus extra for serving •
Zest and juice of 1 lime (or lemon) 1 kaffir lime leaf, very finely chopped (optional)
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½ tsp finely ground white or black pepper Pinch chilli flakes (optional) chopped fresh chilli, deseeded sweet chilli sauce (optional) extra lime or lemon juice (optional)
This is a gorgeous marinade that’s bursting with fresh, tangy Vietnamese flavours. The chicken is lovely cooked on the BBQ as below, or you can cook it in a frying pan if the weather isn’t playing nice. A drizzle of sweet chilli sauce and you’re taking it down to ‘taste town’. 1. Place the chicken in a non-metallic bowl for marinating. 2. If you’re using lemongrass stalks, peel off the tough bright-green outer leaves. Cut off the very hard base. Bash each stalk with the base of your knife to tenderise it and chop finely before it goes in the processor. 3. Put the lemongrass in a food processor along with the oil, ginger, garlic, fish sauce, cumin, turmeric, herbs, lime zest and juice, kaffir lime leaf (if using) and pepper and chilli (if using). Process until you have a smooth paste – you’ll probably need to scrape down the sides a few times. If you don’t have a food processor, just mince everything as finely as you can.
a plate and season both sides with salt. 6. Preheat a clean BBQ hotplate (or frying pan) to medium, and oil it. When hot, add the chicken pieces and leave to cook for about five minutes before turning to cook the other side for another five minutes. If you like, give it 30 seconds on each side on the preheated grill plate to get the char lines at the very end. Let the chicken rest, covered with foil, for ten minutes before serving. 7. To serve, scatter with extra coriander and chopped fresh chilli, and a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce and lime juice if you like.
4. Add the paste to the chicken and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least three hours or overnight – up to two days. 5. Remove the chicken from the fridge 30 to 60 minutes before cooking. Arrange on
Recipe extracted from Eat
CHELSEA’S TIPS Kaffir lime leaves add a beautiful flavour to the marinade — you can find them at the supermarket or your local greengrocer.
Eat is packed with dishes that are destined to become new favourites in your household, plus a bumper collection of sides, sauces and sweet treats. No complicated instructions or hard-to-find ingredients, just real food with real flavour made with love.
Contact us
Visit your local Heartland Bank branch or call us today to chat about which account or deposit is right for you, and for a copy of our Disclosure Statement, Product Fact Sheets and Account and Service General Terms and Conditions. Freephone 0800 85 20 20
Website www.heartland.co.nz
Email invest@heartland.co.nz
Your Heartland Bank network Newmarket 35 Teed Street
Takapuna
Wellington 93 Customhouse Quay
Christchurch 75 Riccarton Road
456 Lake Road
Hamilton
411 Victoria Street
Tauranga 24 Devonport Road
Ashburton Temporary premises at 165 Tancred Street