Thu 5 Feb 2015 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Desiree Yeng Tung, ANZ Personal Banker, with the Reuben Paterson-designed GAYTM on Ponsonby Rd. ANZ has glammed up four of its New Zealand ATMS and turned them into ‘GAYTMs’, following their fun first outing at Sydney’s Mardi Gras last year. The GAYTMs are located at 312 Ponsonby Road, 122 Karangahape Road, 45 Queen St in Auckland, and 22 Willis St in Wellington and will remain dressed up throughout February. ANZ at 45 Queen St will also display rainbow coloured lights for the month. The GAYTM at ANZ Ponsonby was designed by artist Reuben Paterson and includes 120 rhinestones. Its theme is Freedom Flowers - inspired by the Rainbow Flag. It contains native New Zealand flower, the Puawhananga. “The Puawhananga’s journey from the base of the forest to the treetops represents pride in the lgbti community’s own journey onward and upward,” Paterson says. “This journey is as far reaching as the night sky as the clematis are referred to as Puanga - or the bright star of Orion.” Check out the video below for more about the design The GAYTMs will also print ‘Freedom Flowers’ receipts and display support messages for the Auckland Pride Festival and Out in the Park. The bank is also donating proceeds from the use of non-ANZ customer cards from the GAYTMs to OUTLine. Marcella Goulding, ANZ Willis St Branch Manager, and LaQuisha Redfern, ANZ IT programmer with the GAYTM at ANZ Willis St. ANZ says it wanted to support of diversity and inclusion, as Auckland Pride Festival kicks off and Wellington readies for Out in the Park. “We believe that celebrating a diverse New Zealand is not only the right thing to do but also makes good business sense given the make-up of our staff and customers,” says ANZ Chief Financial Officer Antonia Watson, who is also the ANZ Pride Network’s executive sponsor. “The GAYTMs represent values that are important to all of us: respect, inclusion, equality and acceptance.” ANZ is also celebrating its official partnership with Auckland Pride Festival, and its Rainbow Tick accreditation. Rainbow Tick programme director Michael Stevens says ANZ received a special commendation for its work with transgender staff. The GAYTMs are being launched at functions in Auckland and Wellington tonight. ANZ is also running a social media campaign where people can glam up everyday items and upload pictures to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the tag #GAYTMNZ, to be in to win flights, accommodation and VIP tickets to Mardi Gras in Sydney.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 5th February 2015 - 1:03pm