Co-op Money NZ recognises dedicated individuals

Co-op Money NZ recognises dedicated individuals at industry awards ceremony

A number of dedicated New Zealand credit union staff and directors were honoured at the industry awards held by Co-op Money NZ, the association representing co-operatively owned credit unions and mutual building societies in New Zealand, on 12 September 2015 at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Auckland.

Mary Martick from Westforce Credit Union, Bob Irwin from NZCU Employees, Bob Strong at NZCU Baywide, and Doug McLaren from NZCU Auckland received Individual Recognition Awards at the Co-op Money NZ Annual Gala Awards event.

One Co-op Money NZ Board Special Recognition Award was also presented to David Trott from Credit Union Central. Credit Union Central is based in Kawerau and operates branches throughout the Eastern Bay of Plenty. The organisation also recently opened a new branch in Ruatoria to support the community.

Recipients of the awards were recognised for their valuable contribution to their credit union, the industry and local community.

The gala dinner was attended by around 140 credit union board members and managers from all over New Zealand. The Awards ceremony, conducted as part of the association’s annual conference, recognised credit union anniversaries as well, including NZCU Auckland’s, a 100% New Zealand owned financial co-operative celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.

It was preceded by Co-op Money NZ’s Annual Conference 2015, which brought together credit union leaders to discuss the changes in the sector and better ways to capitalise on these changes.

“This year’s annual conference, which was the first under Co-op Money NZ’s new brand identity, brought together all our members from around the country. They were all able to meet and learn from each other through the sessions at the conference. The Business Strategy Workshops that were designed to provide information and guidance to the senior-most decision makers at Co-op Money NZ’s Member credit unions were especially beneficial to the attendees,” said Henry Lynch, CEO of Co-op Money NZ.

Independently owned and operated by their members for their members, credit unions and mutual building societies provide a wide range of financial services, like savings accounts, loans and insurance, and any profits are returned to the members in a combination of ways, such as fairer fees and interest rates with community involvement.

“Through our Member organisations, and along with our partners, we facilitate ongoing innovation by providing multiple banking and insurance services, including payment mechanisms and IT facilities that are supported by interactive banking services across phone, text, internet, and mobile devices.

“Our Members focus on making life easier for mum-and-dad Kiwis, and offer them a personalised level of service that many other financial institutions find difficult to equal. Crucially, profits made by credit unions and mutual building societies are filtered back to Kiwi communities in various ways, so it stays in the country to enrich the population as a whole” added Lynch.

ENDS

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