Hit hard by Covid, the Māori owned and operated arborist company The Specialist was paid a special visit from the Māori All Blacks.
It is one of 100 businesses nationwide to receive a grant from ASB Bank as part of its Borrow the All Blacks campaign, and owner Thomas Rika says it's come at a vital time.
"We took a big hit immediately after Covid and so my wife and I, especially my wife, really worked hard to drum up business," he said.
"We employ six local boys and we really wanted to hang onto them. We didn't want to let them go."
All six of the team are doing their apprenticeship, and studying to gain level-four arboriculture qualifications.