By Logan Schokking, Corporate Analyst, Institutional & Business Banking, Westpac New Zealand
*The views expressed by this Rangatahi member are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the organisation(s) they represent.
The Aotearoa Circle brings together business, Māori partners, government, NGOs, academia and community. That cross-sector table is where I want to grow, building my governance and stakeholder skills while offering a practical finance lens.
My focus is long-term decision-making guided by kaitiakitanga. I want to help shift capital and capability towards projects that strengthen communities and the natural environment and explain the ‘why’ in plain language so people can see themselves in it.
With the climate challenge intensifying, we must act now to protect our planet’s future. My measure of success on the Rangatahi Advisory Panel is simple: did we help leaders make more strategic decisions that will still look wise in 20 or 100 years, and did we hold those people accountable?
Where I come from
I grew up in Whakatū Nelson, mostly in or near the ocean, sailing, rowing and swimming. I learnt discipline and teamwork early. I represented Aotearoa in team sailing, a fast three-versus-three format where six boats contest the course at once. It is tactical, collaborative and competitive. I also rowed for Nelson College at the Maadi Cup, training up to 12 times a week. That period taught me grit and follow-through.
Nelson is calm and understated. Its economy runs on forestry, fishing and horticulture. A formative internship within the apple industry showed me how value chains work, from orchard decisions to export markets.
For the last six years I have called Ōtautahi Christchurch home. I studied at the University of Canterbury, completing a Bachelor of Commerce in Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Management with a focus on sustainable business. The city has momentum, rebuilding and innovating with purpose, with long-term projects that set the city up for success.
I am proud to bring a financial lens to my Rangatahi role. My role at Westpac’s Institutional Business Banking team is as a Corporate Analyst across general corporate and property finance. The part I enjoy most is meeting business owners and leaders, understanding how they started their business, how they create value, and seeing their passions first-hand.
I also love exploring and capturing photos of our beautiful New Zealand landscapes. I founded New Zealand Captured, an aerial photography venture with a South Island portfolio. Travelling to curate that collection has deepened my appreciation of what we’re all responsible for protecting.
“The Earth is what we all have in common.” — Wendell Berry
What I hope to achieve
Make nature investable, with a clear ESG risk lens. Start seeing nature as part of the solution. Wetlands, dunes, and green corridors aren’t just scenery; they’re natural systems that protect us. Investing in these systems should be recognised as a core part of ESG risk management. When we look after them and keep them thriving, everyone benefits. They reduce the impact of floods and help communities recover faster. That’s resilience worth investing in.
In practical terms, this means prioritising investments that deliver enduring value, such as renewable energy infrastructure and large-scale housing upgrades. Directing capital into homegrown renewable generation and energy-efficient housing not only reduces emissions and operating costs but also strengthens resilience and affordability for communities. These are the fundamentals that pay back socially, environmentally, and economically.
To achieve this, we need to plan for the long term. That means adopting whole-of-life planning so maintenance strengthens resilience rather than simply deferring costs. It means creating cross-party horizons of 30 to 50 years, applying a future generations test to all Crown-funded projects, and embedding transparency through open data, clear metrics, and plain reporting. These steps ensure that investment decisions today deliver enduring value for communities and the economy tomorrow.
Building capability is critical. That means investing in skills, data, and diverse voices, with technology as an enabler. We need decision-useful climate and nature data, clear green skills pathways, and structured engagement with youth, elders, and experts. By leveraging technology, we can widen participation, create meaningful opportunities, and ensure that more New Zealanders, especially young people, see a future for themselves here in Aotearoa. This is about empowering our people to lead the change.
I see my role on the Rangatahi Advisory Panel as helping drive ideas into actions that can stand the test of time. I believe in kaitiakitanga that is lived, not just spoken. I believe in authenticity and long-term decision-making that earns trust.
If finance serves the needs of people and the planet, our foundations become stronger and our communities more resilient.
That’s a future worth creating.
