ANZ and Westpac Customers Leave for Good.

This morning hundreds of ANZ and Westpac customers across New Zealand are moving their money to new banks which do not invest in fossil fuels. Both ANZ and Westpac have climate change policies, however they include no timelines for stopping investment in new fossil fuel projects or other accountability mechanisms.

In Dunedin, customers are joining with 350 Dunedin to bring letters to the bank stating why they are leaving. They will be cutting up their old bank cards and there will be a performance by the esteemed Jasper Ririnui.

Charlie Montague, former ANZ customer and spokesperson for 350.org Dunedin states, "ANZ and Westpac Customers are smart enough to know there is a difference between a bank saying it will take action on climate change and a bank that follows through and stops investments in new fossil fuel projects."

"New fossil fuel projects are dangerous to the health and lives of tamariki as well as the earth. There are no excuses to invest any money in new fossil fuel projects."

"I moved my money out of ANZ bank because I do not want my money funding projects like the controversial Carmichael coal mine in Queensland. This mine is on sacred Aboriginal land, never ceded. ANZ is open to funding it. After meeting with ANZ twice and having their investments team perform a review, nobody could confirm that ANZ will not invest in this mine."

In November, the Dunedin City Council took a strong stand against exploring for new fossil fuels. Instead the welcomed a transition to energy which does not harm people or the environment. 350 Dunedin encourages both Westpac and ANZ to take note of Dunedin Council's attitude.

Dunedin Mayor David Cull stated, “The world is waking up. We can’t identify benefits of exploring for oil off our coast. We don’t have any kind of right to trade in our grandkids futures for a few pieces of silver now.”

ENDS.

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