Call for NZ Post agency partner boycott to stop Kiwibank's Stoke closure

Friday, 23 November 2018

Nelson MP Nick Smith, challenged the coalition government to prevent the closure of Stoke's Kiwibank branch.

Stoke businesses should not partner NZ Post in a new outlet to help prevent the closure of the suburb's Kiwibank branch, says Nelson's MP.

Nick Smith made the boycott call at a meeting against the closure of Stoke's Kiwibank branch on Friday. More than 230 people packed into the Stoke Methodist Church hall, and some had to stand in the hallway and car-park.

Kiwibank has said it would not close the branch until NZ Post had found a local business to partner with. The two agencies currently share the Stoke premises, but are separating offices throughout the country.

'I call to all businesses in Stoke to boycott the request for agency,' Smith said.

The Government, NZ Post, and Kiwibank were invited to send representatives to the meeting, but none attended.

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* Kiwibank branch closure detrimental for Stoke residents, says mayor**

He said the bank closing would be bad for all businesses in the area.

'If you're going to Nelson or Richmond to do your banking, why not go there for your groceries?'

Despite invitations, no representatives from either the Government, Kiwibank, or NZ Post attended the meeting.

Bob Paine, a 93 year old Stoke resident, spoke against the planned Kiwibank closure at the meeting.

Smith criticised the no-shows. He said that while he accepted an apology from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern 'in good faith', he was disappointed the organisations had no representative.

'These [businesses] are owned by the people of New Zealand; you own it and they should listen to you,' he said.

People had approached him saying the closure of the bank would leave them relying on family members to do their banking for them. One person even told him they feared the closure would force them to move into a retirement home.

The elderly population will be the most affected by the planned closure of Stoke's Kiwibank branch.

'Banking is not an optional service, it is essential,' Smith said.

He also hit out at NZ Post, which has said it was neither ceasing nor stopping services, since they were looking to partner with other businesses as post agencies.

'Do not buy the line that they are the same. The postal services you receive at an agency in another shop are not as focused on the public as you would see in a dedicated service.'

Nelson Greypower president Christine Tuffnell also criticised the no-shows, saying Kiwibank executives were 'perhaps nocturnal, like a kiwi or a possum'.

She issued a challenge to Kiwibank chairwoman Dr Susan Macken to put herself in the shoes of an elderly Kiwibank customer.

'Take a walker, get a bus timetable, flag down the bus, manoeuvre the walker onto the bus, and take the bus into Nelson. Take the walker off the bus and find the bank in Nelson, with no smartphone to help, it's about one kilometre away from the bus stop, line up for your one bank transaction, get back to the bus stop and come back to Stoke. It will take you four hours.'

She said about half the people Greypower represented did not use email or even own computers, and many still primarily dealt in cheques.

Nelson mayor Rachel Reese said she was also disappointed at the lack of representatives from Kiwibank, NZ Post, or central Government.

'I was - disappointed isn't the word, but I don't think I will say the word that actually came to mind in public,' she said.

'It is not acceptable not to have anyone here.'