Former TSB Ōpunakē will continue to be used for community good

Te Kāhui o Taranaki Trust has successfully purchased the former TSB Ōpunakē branch property, taking ownership on Thursday 28 March.

“We understand this has been a big change for the community and are pleased to see the property remain as a place for community good,” says TSB CEO Kerry Boielle.

“We promised the local community that when we sold the property, our former TSB ATM would stay. We know how important this ATM service is to the local community, and we’ve worked hard to ensure it remains in place to support Ōpunakē 24/7. We’d like to thank Te Kāhui o Taranaki Trust for their assistance in making this happen,” says Kerry.

Te Kāhui o Taranaki Trust is the Post-Settlement Governance Entity established to receive and manage the Treaty settlement assets of Taranaki Iwi.

Jacqui King, Chairperson of Te Kāhui o Taranaki Trust says “this was a strategic purchase in advancing our Iwi aspirations and reclaiming our presence on our own whenua. Ōpunakē is especially important due to it being one of the larger urban footprints within our iwi boundaries. 

“Access to the ATM services for the community was a key consideration and collaboration with TSB has ensured this important community facility remains. The opportunity to be visibly present and accessible to our whānau, within our own rohe, was at the heart of this decision. 

“This purchase is one of many steps we are taking as active and positive contributors to the socio-economic wellbeing of our whānau and the wider Taranaki coastal community”.