Running legend signs up as BNZ Games Ambassador

18 October 2005

Running legend signs up as Bank of New Zealand Commonwealth Games Ambassador

A customer relationship that began 50 years ago has turned to gold for Bank of New Zealand.

Back then, double Commonwealth Games and Olympic gold medallist Sir Murray Halberg and his wife Phyl were retailers on Auckland’s Dominion Road, and banked with Bank of New Zealand. Their local branch was just up the road.

“I regularly made the dash to the branch with the day’s takings, often just making the three o’clock deadline,” Sir Murray says.

Today, the Bank has called on Sir Murray to become its senior Commonwealth Games Ambassador.

“I’ve been involved with the Commonwealth and Olympic Games for many years, firstly as a competitor and more recently as an athlete mentor. This is the first time I’ve been an Ambassador. I’m looking forward to this new phase in my relationship with Bank of New Zealand and, of course, to supporting and encouraging the team for Melbourne.”

Bank of New Zealand’s General Manager of Marketing, Distribution & Strategy, Andrew Whitechurch says the Bank is proud to have Sir Murray as a Commonwealth Games Team Ambassador.

“He’s a legend from a golden age of New Zealand athletics.”

Sir Murray joins a stellar team of ambassadors assembled by the Bank – Sarah Ulmer, Lizzy Igasan, Corney Swanepoel and Sir Richard Hadlee – as it seeks to harness support for New Zealand athletes competing at the Melbourne games, next March.

Bank of New Zealand is a principal partner of the New Zealand team to the Games.

ENDS

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