BNZ memories flood back

A 150th anniversary is one well worth celebrating, and the BNZ has done just that, in style.

The milestone was marked with a nationwide tour of the bank's 90 branches around the country, finishing in Kaitaia on Friday.

BNZ exhibit manager Lloyd Cairns said many of the people who featured in the display photographs had visited the roadshow, seeing pictures of themselves and other people they knew.

"There have been lots of connections made; lots of old staff have come through," he said. And only two had grumbled about the bank throughout the entire tour.

One of the Kaitaia branch's oldest customers, 92-year-old farmer turned main street businessman Tony Jujnovich, who was invited to cut the celebratory cake, had been a client since immediately upon his return from serving overseas in World War 2.

"We would not have survived without the bank," he said.

"I was always welcome to come here and explain myself to the manager, after which there'd be no further interference and I could continue on my way."

He had never been tempted to change banks, the same going for fellow Kaitaia resident Ken Brent, a customer for more than 60 years, preceded by his grandfather Charlie Adamson, who owned a store at Taipa, possibly one of the very first. Mr Brent still had his grandfather's deposit book from 1923, and he too was a very satisfied customer.

"I've never had reason to complain, never been refused a loan. They've been wonderful," he said.

The display in Kaitaia included an almost 100-year-old photo of the Commerce Street building, taken from a 1914 postcard provided by Jack Katavich, another customer dating back to the 1940s. He recalled taking the bus from his home at Waiharara to Awanui as a 21-year-old, hitching a ride the rest of the way to Kaitaia with the bank accountant, who was on his way to deliver money to the shops.

"I got a lift with him to town, with all the money in the car. I clearly remember the revolver that sat between us in the car," he said.

The BNZ was founded on October 16, 1861, just a few months after gold was discovered in central Otago. The first Auckland office was an old drapery shop, and in Wellington it was an old hotel building.

Staff were given training in the use of revolvers, and kept the weapons close at hand while they worked. It wasn't until the 1970s that more than 400 revolvers were handed in to police headquarters to be destroyed.

A selection of uniform images from over the years was also on display. The first uniform was introduced in 1967, while the 1980s version included a leather tie.

The bank has a permanent museum in Wellington, which provided many of the items that went on tour, including portable gold scales used by bank agents during the Otago gold rush. There were also excerpts from the "BNZ rules and regulations to be observed by officers" published on March 20, 1896; decrees included that "Every officer is expected and required to apply himself with zeal, activity and assiduity to the business of his station" and "Bank officers in receipt of a salary of 200 pounds ($400) per annum must obtain the consent of the board to marry".