Ever tried to get a bank to fund a business acquisition in New Zealand? Honestly, it’s a nightmare. Most people walk into a branch, talk to a generalist who deals with car loans one minute and mortgages the next, and then wonder why their application gets ghosted for three weeks.
This is exactly where Gus Evans found his lane.
If you've been around the Auckland business scene lately, you've probably heard the name. He isn't some corporate suit hiding in a glass tower. He’s the guy who basically looked at the messy, complicated world of commercial lending and decided to fix it. People often confuse him with other "Evanses" in the NZ public eye—like the rugby players—but this Gus Evans is the director of Onboard Lending (formerly Spring Loans) and a guy who has turned commercial brokerage into something of an art form.
Why Gus Evans is Shaking Up NZ Commercial Lending
Most "experts" out there try to do everything. They’ll sell you insurance, fix your home loan, and maybe try to give you investment advice on the side. Gus Evans doesn't play that game. His whole mantra is "specialize, specialize, specialize."
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He founded Spring Loans back in 2020. Bold timing, right? Starting a business right as a global pandemic kicks off. But it worked. He saw that business owners were being underserved by the big banks. He realized that if you want to buy a business or scale an existing one, you don't need a "jack of all trades." You need someone who speaks the specific, often annoying language of acquisition finance and debt structuring.
Since then, the guy has been on a bit of a tear. He's been recognized as the Commercial Mortgage Adviser of the Year and has consistently landed on the NZ Top Adviser lists for 2024 and 2025.
It’s not just about the money
One thing people often get wrong is thinking that guys like Gus just shuffle papers for a commission. Talk to anyone who has actually worked with him, and they’ll tell you he’s a bit of a "dog with a bone."
He’s known for being relentless.
If a deal is stuck in a credit department's "too hard" basket, he’s the one figuring out how to re-structure it so the bank says yes. He’s often working late—not because he’s a workaholic who loves spreadsheets, but because business owners don’t stop at 5 p.m. If a client needs to workshop a deal at 8:30 p.m. after the kids are in bed, Gus is usually the one answering the phone.
The Evolution from Spring Loans to Onboard
Brands change. It’s part of the journey.
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Spring Loans was a great name, but as the team grew—bringing in guys like Ash Mitchell and Brad Tonkin—the business evolved into Onboard Lending. It’s more than just a rebrand. It’s about the fact that they’ve built a specialized ecosystem.
They aren't just looking at the loan. They're looking at:
- Commercial Debt Structuring: Making sure you aren't paying more interest than you absolutely have to.
- Acquisition Financing: The nitty-gritty of actually buying out a competitor or a new venture.
- Business Growth Capital: Finding the fuel to keep the fire burning.
Honestly, the NZ market is small. In a place like Auckland, reputation is everything. If you mess up a few deals, everyone knows. The fact that Gus Evans has managed to keep winning industry awards while scaling his team says a lot about the actual results he’s delivering.
Breaking the "Rugby Player" Confusion
Let’s address the elephant in the room. If you Google "Evans New Zealand," you’re going to find a lot of rugby stats.
There’s Gareth Evans, the former All Black and Highlanders loose forward. He’s a legend in his own right, born in Hastings and known for an incredible work rate on the field. Then there’s Georgia Evans, the powerhouse second row for Wales who’s been making waves in the Women’s Rugby World Cup circles.
But Gus? He’s the one playing a different kind of high-stakes game. While the rugby Evanses are tackling people on grass, Gus is tackling interest rates and credit policies. Different fields, same level of intensity.
The Horticultural Legacy
To make things even more confusing for researchers, there’s another Gus Evans who is a total icon in the New Zealand gardening world.
Based in Waikanae, the "other" Gus Evans ran a famous nursery for nearly 40 years. He was recently made an Associate of Honour by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. So, if you’re looking for someone to help you grow a native shrub, you want the Waikanae Gus. If you’re looking to grow a multi-million dollar business, you want the Auckland Gus.
What You Can Learn from the Gus Evans Approach
So, what’s the takeaway here? Whether you’re a business owner or just someone interested in how the NZ economy actually moves, there are a few "Gus-isms" that actually hold weight.
- Niches lead to riches. Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Gus focuses on business owners and commercial lending. By ignoring the "easy" home loan market, he became the go-to for the "hard" stuff.
- Teamwork isn't just a cliché. He’s been very vocal about how much he relies on his partners, Ash and Brad. In the finance world, "workshopping" a deal—getting multiple smart heads in a room to poke holes in a strategy—is how you avoid disasters.
- Availability is a competitive advantage. In a world of automated "no" emails from big banks, a human who picks up the phone at 7 p.m. is a disruptor.
The Future of Commercial Finance in NZ
Looking ahead through 2026, the market is changing. We’re seeing a massive uptick in people wanting to buy their own businesses. Why? Because Kiwis are naturally entrepreneurial. We hate working for "the man" and we love the idea of owning our own slice of the pie.
Gus Evans has positioned himself right at the center of this trend. He’s noted that market confidence is returning, and with that comes more complex deals.
If you’re planning on jumping into the business ownership game, your first step shouldn't be a generic bank meeting. You need to get your "ducks in a row" before you ever sign an SPA (Sale and Purchase Agreement). This means having your debt structure mapped out and knowing exactly how much leverage you can actually handle without suffocating your cash flow.
Practical Next Steps for Business Owners
- Review your current debt: If you haven't looked at your commercial interest rates in the last six months, you're probably leaving money on the table.
- Focus on the "why": Before asking for money, be clear on whether you’re borrowing for survival or for growth. Lenders can smell the difference.
- Build a specialist team: Don't just get a lawyer and an accountant. Get a dedicated commercial broker who understands your specific industry's risks.
- Verify your numbers: Ensure your EBITDA and cash flow projections are bulletproof before they hit a credit desk.
The landscape of New Zealand business is shifting, and having a specialist like Gus Evans in your corner is often the difference between a "declined" email and a settlement notice.