33 mayors nationwide call on Jacinda Ardern for inquiry into bank closures

Thirty three mayors from Far North to Southland called on the New Zealand government to launch a formal inquiry into the impact of the country’s banks closing branches in provincial communities, TVNZ reports. The mayors signed a letter to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, calling for the Government to intervene and encourage banks to consider more than just economics when it comes to closing branches. They noted that access to an ATM did not address “the social harm and problems” caused by closing branches that support provincial communities and economies.