June 10, 2015
Kaumatua and kuia most affected over bank closure
Maori Party MP Marama Fox says kaumatua and kuia will be the people most affected by the closure of the Westpac branch in Ruatoria.
Ms Fox attended a community meeting this week to discuss the proposed closure.
She says more than 50 marae, 12 schools, multiple businesses and land owners have had a relationship with the branch going back decades, and the bank needs to reciprocate that loyalty.
She says the region’s kaumatua have told her they have used over the counter banking their entire lives, and online banking is not a viable option for them.
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