Rubisco and Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua Announce MultiMillion Dollar Strategic Investment to Advance Natural Materials Platform
Christchurch, New Zealand Rubisco Limited (“Rubisco”) and Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua Limited (“Arowhenua”) today announced a strategic partnership, marked by a multi-milliondollar investment by Arowhenua into Rubisco, to support the development and scaling of natural materials across global markets. The investment into Rubisco reflects a shared commitment to advancing industries that align environmental integrity with sustainable economic outcomes.
Arowhenua is a Papatipu Rūnanga of Ngāi Tahu, with a long-term focus on kaitiakitanga, intergenerational stewardship, and the responsible development of natural resources.
Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua Limited (TRoAL) operates as the commercial arm of Arowhenua, with a mandate to advance economic development and the sustainable management of rūnanga assets. Its evolving investment portfolio spans the health, transportation, tourism, seafood and farming sectors, alongside a diversified global equities portfolio, commercial property investments, and the active management of taonga assets of cultural and strategic significance to Arowhenua Rūnanga.
In recent years, TRoAL has also expanded its commercial and environmental footprint through Arowhenua Native Nursery & Restoration, which specialises in the eco-sourcing and propagation of locally sourced native seeds and plants. Beyond plant production, it delivers a broad range of restoration mahi including riparian planting, wetland restoration, native revegetation, providing on the ground environmental services contributing to biodiversity enhancement, waterway protection and the long-term restoration of indigenous landscapes.
Rubisco is a New Zealand-based natural materials platform company, established to develop and commercialise high-performance materials derived from natural fibres, including wool and hemp. The business builds on more than 50 years of wool processing heritage, including the production of high-quality carpet yarns used in premium carpets globally.
This capability builds on more than 50 years of continuous wool processing operations in New Zealand, historically operating under different company names aligned to a woolfocused business, with Rubisco now reflecting a broader natural materials platform.
Since its formation, Rubisco has been supported by majority cornerstone shareholders including Carrfields, a leading New Zealand agribusiness group with extensive involvement across the primary sector and rural investment, and Zealandia Hemp, a local investment group behind Hemp New Zealand, leading the New Zealand hemp industry with high-quality products to meet increasing market demand for sustainably produced food, supplements, and skincare, now operating from Ashburton. Alongside other New Zealand farmers and investors, these shareholders have backed the development of fibre processing capability, product innovation, and market entry across multiple applications.
Over this period, the company has established capability across fibre sourcing, processing, and yarn development, positioning it to scale natural material solutions into textiles, interiors, and the built environment.
The partnership with Arowhenua is underpinned by strong alignment in values and longterm intent, combining Arowhenua’s perspective on land, resource stewardship, and intergenerational outcomes with Rubisco’s focus on scalable material innovation.
Guy Wills, Chief Executive Officer of Rubisco, said: “This investment represents an important milestone for Rubisco. We have had strong support from our existing shareholders to build the foundations of the business, underpinned by a long-standing wool processing capability, and this partnership with Arowhenua brings additional alignment in both capital and values as we move into the next stage of growth. There is a clear global opportunity for natural materials, and this positions us to scale alongside the right partners.”
Jon Gurr, General Manager, Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua Ltd, said: “We are pleased to support Rubisco’s development. This investment aligns with our focus on initiatives that connect land, resource, and innovation, and deliver enduring outcomes for future generations. Rubisco’s platform reflects a direction we believe will be increasingly important in the transition toward sustainable materials.”
This partnership provides a platform for both organisations to support the continued development and scaling of natural materials, building on existing capability and accelerating opportunities across key markets and applications.
Together, Rubisco and Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua Limited intend to accelerate the adoption of natural materials in global supply chains, while strengthening New Zealand’s position in this emerging category.
About Rubisco Limited
Rubisco Limited is a New Zealand-based natural materials platform company focused on the development and commercialisation of high-performance materials derived from natural fibres, including wool and hemp. The business builds on more than 50 years of continuous wool processing operations in New Zealand, including the production of high-quality carpet yarns used in premium carpets globally. Historically operating under different company names aligned to a wool-focused business, Rubisco now reflects a broader natural materials platform, with capability across fibre processing, yarn development, and downstream applications spanning textiles, interiors, and the built environment.
About Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua Limited (TRoAL)
Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua Limited (TRoAL) is the commercial arm of Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, a Papatipu Rūnanga of Ngāi Tahu. TRoAL manages investments and initiatives on behalf of the rūnanga, with a focus on long-term value creation aligned to kaitiakitanga, intergenerational stewardship, and sustainable economic development. Through its investment activities, TRoAL supports opportunities that connect land, resource, and enterprise, with the objective of delivering enduring outcomes for current and future generations.
Media Contacts
Rubisco Limited
Guy Wills, CEO
E: [email protected]
P: +64 21 413 111
Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua Limited
Jon Gurr, General Manager
E: [email protected]
P: +64 3 615 9646
