Finance wizz drawn back to Ashburton
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shburton is the sort of place you leave and come back to. It has an attraction that draws you back whatever your age. There’s something in the expression “you can take the boy out of Ashburton but you can’t take Ashburton out of the boy.” That’s the case with Bill Calder, well almost. He was born, educated and grew up in Mid Canterbury and only left to pursue a career in banking. Now he’s back, at least in Christchurch, but he’s keen to travel those 100 kms home to family, friends and the community he embraced as a young man. Bill was born in Ashburton in 1956. He attended Hampstead School and Ashburton College. There he was remembered for his sporting ability. He was very good at athletics and impressed at rugby, representing Mid Canterbury through the age grades. But Bill had another asset. He was lead guitar in a school band with three other college students. The band, called Deep Image, played covers. They were handy with Cream but excelled with Beatles and Credence Clearwater Revival. Colleagues at the time remember Bill had great fingers on the guitar and a loyal group of fans. He also had great fingers on the calculator but that was to come later. Bill had a warm, close family upbringing. Bill’s parents, Gordon and Bertha, both worked for The Guardian. It was there they met. While work romances are discouraged, Gordon and Bertha’s flourished. Ink was in Gordon’s fingers and, a few years later, he joined Laurie Kerr to establish Calder and Kerr in Tancred Street. The Guardian played an important role in the Calder household. Gordon, Bertha, Barbara and Bill read the paper. So did Mandy, the family dog. She had close vision and was able to read it when she picked it up from the paperboy each day. Bill was a typical Ashburton teenager. When he wasn’t starring at the Showgrounds, he drove the circuit up East Street and down West. Bill fondly remembers familiar spots on the Ashburton landscape. The domain or opposite the racecourse were two, and he wasn’t alone. However Bill had a talent for banking. He worked for the CBA bank in Ashburton and, after four years, transferred to Wellington in early 1978. When the CBA morphed into Westpac, he moved to Palmerston North, back to Wellington and down to Christchurch in 1996. Forty-five years in finance gave him a comprehensive knowledge of the industry. But there was something missing in the services
provided by banks and Bill started seeking a finance and investment alternative that offered solutions to people that the banks couldn’t help with. He found it with Zagga. At first he was surprised by the name but, when it explained “why zig when you can Zagga,” he understood. It’s a New Zealand peer to peer lending and investment company that’s created a lending platform matching investors with credit worthy borrowers. It’s fully licensed and regulated by the Financial Markets Authority. Investors can earn higher returns while borrowers gain greater access and flexibility to the finance they need. It’s Zagga’s point of difference and offers a possible solution to credit worthy borrowers who aren’t able to secure finance elsewhere. In particular, Bill points out that Zagga, established in 2014, offers an alternative to people looking to borrow, including start-up businesses that lack a track record but are able to offer security. To date it’s lent about $300 million through its platforms to borrowers throughout New Zealand and Australia. Zagga has a loyal customer base but is always looking to grow. That’s where Ashburton comes in. “I’m from Mid Canterbury and aware of the depth of investment opportunities the district offers,” he says. “We’re looking for mum and dad and private investors and can offer them a much better rate than the disappointing returns they might get elsewhere.” Bill encourages people to check Zagga out at www. zagga.co.nz, ring him on 0274-780-326 or drop him an email at bill@zagga.co.nz. If you’re interested he’s planning a trip home in the next few months and would love to meet anyone interested in borrowing or investing.
0800 286 286 your secured alternative
Bill Calder
“We’re a small but very viable and trustworthy alternative,” – Bill says.