NZ Herald Headlines | Monday December 1, 2025.
Video / NZ Herald
A 12-month trial for Central Hawke’s Bay businesses and community groups is providing a local and convenient solution for accessing cash and exchanging notes and coins.
A cash withdrawal unit and coin exchange machine has been installed in a secure, purpose-built area in the Te Huinga Wai - Knowledgeand Learning Hub building, in Waipukurau.
The initiative is a partnership between the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Te Pūtea Matua (RBNZ), and the CHB District Council.
The trial is a bid to resolve a long-standing challenge for local entities which previously had to travel outside the district for essential banking services.
The partnership with RBNZ began in 2022 when a survey of local businesses identified the lack of local cash facilities as a significant hurdle.
Council chief executive Doug Tate said the trial was a great example of the innovative and smart approach that was being taken to address community and business pain points.
“We heard from the community about the importance of cash and the impact bank closures and restricted hours were having on the ability to just get on with business.”
He said the council wanted to ensure the services were kept local to save time and money.
The cash withdrawal unit is based at Te Huinga Wai, Knowledge and Learning Hub building, Waipukurau.
Waipawa’s Goat Horn Café owner Josh Renall described the trial as a “game-changer”.
“We’re constantly having to manage our float, exchanging cash for coins with businesses up and down the street, this trial will make life a lot easier.”
Local businesses, sports clubs and community groups are encouraged to apply for access to the cash depot by registering on the Reserve Bank’s website.
The project is fully funded by the RBNZ, and the trial results will inform future policy around cash access and use.
RBNZ director of money and cash Ian Woolford said people should be able to use cash as and when they wanted, but they could not if cash services weren’t available.
“Until now, people and businesses in Waipukurau and Waipawa have been forced to travel up to 50km to Hastings, Havelock North and Dannevirke, since local bank branches closed and remaining ATMs were inadequate.
“Our view is that it is getting too hard for people to withdraw and use cash, deposit cash, or make change, as bank branches have closed, especially in rural areas.”
Woolford said the bank would continue to issue cash for as long as the public needs it.
“Research shows 72% of small businesses would be adversely affected if cash was unavailable as a means of payment.
“Our own survey tells us while over 80% of adults use cash sometimes, over half (56%) store cash and 8% rely on cash.”
