‘Regional hubs’ considered for post, banking

WELLINGTON: The Government is exploring the option of creating ‘‘regional hubs’’ for banking and postal facilities in provincial areas where those services are shutting up shop.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson, who is the Minister responsible for NZ Post, said yesterday the Government was in the early stages of exploring the idea.

‘‘We’re actively investigating whether it’s possible for the Government to support regional hubs that could perhaps provide a front of house for banking services or other billpayment services in the regions.’’

He wanted to be able to provide a onestopshop for such services in the regions.

He has been working with Regional Development Minister Shane Jones, who said he was ‘‘very keen’’ on the plan.

‘‘The hubs would contain not only banking services, but other key services too.’’

This comes as more NZ Post branches across New Zealand have been closing.

RNZ reported yesterday NZ Post planned to close its last 79 shops amid plummeting mail volumes.

Kiwibank has also been closing branches in the regions.

Mr Robertson said NZ Post had a memorandum of understanding with the Government that required the stateowned enterprise to have 800 service outlets across the country.

Many post offices have franchised and have opened within Kiwibank branches.

‘‘The issue [with] NZ Post is that fewer people are posting letters and the core services that they have are not being utilised as much. But they are required to have that presence.’’

Mr Robertson said it was time for some ‘‘different thinking’’ about the future of NZ Post and about banking services in the regions.

‘‘This is not just about the post — this is about . . . regional banking services starting to be withdrawn [from the regions].’’

He pointed to Australia for the type of model the Government was exploring.

‘‘If you look at models in Australia, there have been some examples of this where you have got a hub which is provided by the Government, where banks can effectively rent space in it, or there could be Government services provided from it.’’

It was important the Government had a wider look at issues in the regions, where banks and post offices were shutting up shop. — NZME