4 July 2008 Media Statement

Opening of Kiwibank in Barrington Mall

The opening of the new Kiwibank branch in Barrington Mall was a gain for the community in Wigram, local MP and Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton said.

He said that Kiwibank had had many critics, including one who said there would never be more than three Kiwibank branches in the whole of the South Island.

"Today there are over three hundred Kiwibank branches from Te Kao in the far north to bluff in the south. There is even a Kiwibank on Pitt Island in the Chathams."

Jim Anderton said he remembered when Barrington lost its post office, in the 1980s.

"I was ashamed of those closures, and that is why I am very proud to be here today at the opening of this Kiwibank branch.

When branches here were closed I asked the minister responsible what he expected people to do. He said, the nearest branch would be in Columbo Street. They could go there. I told him some of these people were pensioners on walker frames. How would they get to Columbo Street?

"I noticed those ministers who were so brave at parliament when they closed branches were not brave enough to turn up to the closings.

"I am very proud to turn up at openings. Openings of our bank."

ENDS

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