Money machine in time for skiers

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 486, 18 May 1993, Page 1

Money machine in time for skiers

Visitors to Ohakune will have much easier access to cash with the installation of a 'hole-in-the-wall' money machine at the Bank of New Zealand this week. Arriving in time for the ski season, the machine is being welcomed by local retailers who believe difficulties faced by visitors getting cash have lost earnings to the town in the past. The automatic teller

machine (ATM) was installed on Monday and will be operational before the end of the week, accepting cards from banks including Westpac, National, ANZ, PostBank and ASB. Another ATM facility in Ohakune accepts Cashflow cards only and the next closest ATM is in Turangi. "Retailers have been asking for an ATM and

the bank is delighted to be brihging the service to the area," said Ohakune Bank of New Zealand branch manager David Cossar. Ohakune Tyres and Energy Centre proprietor, Warren Swain, said the machine will take the pressure off his business as a source of cash. In the ski season his service station has taken on the appearance of a bank, with people

sometimes queuing 20 deep onto the forecourt to get cash through EFTPOS. "It's the people from Wellington and Auckland who are used to dealing with money machines. They come to Ohakune and they can't get cash," Mr Swain said. "They come down off the mountain between 4pm and 7pm and want to get money for the evening," he said.

Ohakune Hotel manager Rick Lowe also said the ATM was good news for the town. "We have people from the cities who expect the service. It will make them a lot happier because we are reluctant to cash cheques from out of town." The machine should ease the pressure on retailers with EFTPOS services.