Growth team wants money machines

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 438, 2 June 1992, Page 7

Growth team wants money machines

The Ohakune Community Development Team are concerned about the lack of facilities in Ohakune from which visitors can obtain money. Many visitors arrive in the ski season from overseas and other parts of New Zealand expecting to find a range of trading banks with which they have accounts and from which they can withdraw funds. Most of course will come with sufficient

funds either in cash or travellers cheques to cover their holiday but if they run short of funds - as a result of unexpected expenses, unforeseen repairs, impromptu entertainment, impulse buying etc - they have very few options unless they have accounts with Trust Bank or the BNZ or are holders of certain credit cards. The Trust Bank does operate a Cashflow money vending machine but with Post Bank no longer represented here

and with no National Bank ANZ Bank, or Westpac/Wales branch (with whom most visiting Australians have accounts) operating in a tourist centre which attracts thousands of visitors - many of them from overseas - this is seen as a serious omission because many businesses in town - retailers, restaurants etc - will be losing out on the visitor's discretionary spending dollars. One additional cash facility does operate in

town and that is the EFTPOS machine at the Ohakune Tyre and Energy Centre in Clyde Street but such is the demand on that facility at peak times, each user is restricted to a maximum of $50. The Ohakune Community Development Team would like to see more money machines around town so that visitors can withdraw their funds and, spend their money here particularly when they need cash at weekends or in the evening.