BNZ has made the difficult choice to end its sponsorship of Kiwis for kiwi, the national charity that raises and distributes funds to support kiwi conservation projects.

BNZ has supported the national kiwi recovery programme since it began in 1991, contributing more than $12 million to kiwi conservation over that time.

BNZ has contributed more than $12 million to kiwi conservation projects.

BNZ's director of retail banking and marketing, Craig Herbison, says BNZ started the discussion and the transition with Kiwi for kiwi three years ago, to help them broaden their support base and start to remove the formal association with BNZ.

'We hold Kiwis for kiwi in high regard, and we're immensely proud of what we've achieved together. A partnership of this tenure, and what it has delivered to the conservation effort, is one to be respected, which is why we've taken some time to end the association.

'For us at BNZ it was time to look at our partnership and how it aligned strategically with our efforts in the community, and our objective to help New Zealanders be good with money.”

Craig says BNZ will be focusing its community support on Plunket, a $10 million commitment to the Community Finance initiative, financial literacy, and Closed for Good, New Zealand's single largest day of corporate volunteering.

Customers with a current Kiwi EFTPOS card can continue using it as normal until the expiry date.

Executive director of Kiwis for kiwi, Michelle Impey, says the organisation is appreciative of the contribution that BNZ has made over the years to the kiwi recovery programme.

'The bank and its customers have contributed millions of dollars to kiwi conservation projects and this commitment has made a huge difference.

'The important work underway to save New Zealand's national icon has been acknowledged and supported by the government who recently committed $11.2 million in funding over the next four years to help halt the decline of kiwi and save it from extinction.”

However, Michelle funding from other sources is still needed to support for Kiwis for kiwi.

'While we are disappointed to lose a major corporate sponsor, the fight to save kiwis continues, and we are hopeful there are other businesses out there that will be eager to take up the reins. There couldn't be a more Kiwi cause than this.”

Visit www.kiwisforkiwi.org to make a donation directly to Kiwis for kiwi.