Saving money together shouldn't be stressful.

About a year ago, my family and I decided to set up a shared emergency fund. The idea was simple, we’d each chip in $10 a week into an account I managed, so we’d be ready for unexpected costs. But what seemed simple quickly became complicated. Some family members forgot to contribute, others weren’t sure how much had already been saved, and I found myself chasing up missed payments. We tried managing it all with a mix of bank transfers, spreadsheets, and group chats—but it got messy fast. Tension crept in. Transparency faded. And even though the intention was good, trust started to slip. That’s when I realised group saving shouldn’t be this hard. There had to be a better way.

I started thinking, what if there was a simple way for groups to save together that didn’t rely on spreadsheets, awkward reminders, or one person carrying the mental load? Rōpū—which means “group” or “collective” in te reo Māori—is built around that question.

In te ao Māori, a rōpū is more than just a group of people—it’s a collective bound by shared goals, mutual respect, and a sense of responsibility to each other. That kaupapa sits at the heart of the Rōpū platform. It’s designed to make group saving feel effortless and fair, grounded in transparency and accountability. Everyone in your rōpū can see how much has been saved, who’s contributed, and what you're all working toward—together.

Whether you're saving with whānau, friends, your church group, or your sports team, Rōpū supports shared goals through features like group targets, visible contribution history, and automatic reminders that lighten the mental load. It's about making collective saving transparent, respectful, and easy to stick to—so no one feels left behind, and everyone stays connected to the kaupapa.

Rōpū isn’t just another fintech app — it’s a kaupapa-driven platform built around connection, accountability, and trust.