Co-op Money NZ to honour credit unions at awards ceremony in September
The awards ceremony will be conducted as part of Co-op Money NZ’s annual conference, whichwill bring together around 100
credit union and mutual building society leaders from around the country.
Co-op Money NZ, the industry voice representing co-operatively owned credit unions and building societies in New
Zealand, will honour its Members during a Gala Awards ceremony at its annual conference on September 12th at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel in Auckland.
The Awards ceremony will recognise the exemplary work done by organisations and individuals among credit unions in the
country, with categories including Individual Achievement Awards and a special Co-op Money NZ Board Recognition Award.
“Credit unions and mutual building societies have long been a crucial part of the New Zealand economy. Our annual Awards
ceremony is part of our continuing efforts to acknowledge and highlight the high standards of service provided by our
Member organisations to New Zealanders everywhere,” said Henry Lynch, CEO of Co-op Money NZ.
The Awards ceremony, conducted as part of the association’s annual conference, will also recognise credit union
anniversaries, including NZCU Auckland’s, a 100% New Zealand owned financial cooperative celebrating their 50th
anniversary this year. NZCU Auckland was established in October 1965 and prides itself on being at its members’ side, providing them a large range of
products and services, including investments and insurance.
“Organisations like NZCU Auckland are testimony to the people-helping-people philosophy that drives credit unions and
mutual building societies around the country. It is a great honour for us to be standing with industry high-achievers
and acknowledging their milestones this year,” said Lynch.
The annual Co-op Money NZ Conference will bring together around 100 leaders from credit unions and mutual building
societies in the country to discuss methods and initiatives to grow the sector in the year ahead.
“This year’s annual conference will be the first under our new brand identity. The move from NZACU (New Zealand
Association of Credit Unions) to Co-op Money NZ exemplified some of the strategic changes that we were going through as
an organisation and as a sector. Since the brand change in November last year, we have continued to communicate and
deliver on the values upheld by the customer-owned banking sector” said Lynch.
“’Changing to Grow’ is the theme of the conference this year. Much like any other sector of the economy, credit unions
and mutual building societies are in the constant process of modifying and adapting themselves to wider changes in the
country as a whole, in order to ensure that we continue to provide the best products and services to people who need it”
he added.
“Credit unions and mutual building societies have long been a crucial part of the New Zealand economy and they are
constantly reviewing and improving their market offerings in order to remain relevant to the changing needs of new-age
Kiwis.
“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.
The 2015 Co-op Money NZ Conference will feature a range of speakers and will also play host to a set of Business
Strategy Workshops that have been designed to provide information and guidance to the senior-most decision makers at
Co-op Money NZ’s Member credit unions and mutual building societies.
ENDS