MP calls for post agency boycott
Stoke businesses should not partner with New Zealand 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 yesterday against the closure of the bank’s Stoke branch. 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 will not close the branch until NZ Post has found a local business to partner with. The two agencies currently share the Stoke premises, but are separating their offices throughout the country.
‘‘I call to all businesses in Stoke to boycott the request for agency,’’ Smith said.
He said the branch 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 Kiwibank, NZ Post or the Government attended 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 that the organisations had not sent representatives.
Smith said people had approached him saying the closure of the branch would leave them relying on family members to do their banking for them. One had even told him they feared the closure would force them to move into a retirement home.
‘‘Banking is not an optional service, it is essential,’’ Smith said.
He also hit out at NZ Post, which has said it is neither ceasing nor stopping services. It is 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 Grey Power 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 on to 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 Grey Power 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 the Government. ‘‘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.’’
‘‘Banking is not an optional service, it is essential.’’
Nelson MP Nick Smith