ANZ Bank unveils 'GAYTMs'

ANZ staff Marcella Goulding, branch manager, and LaQuisha Redfern, IT programmer with one of the GAYTMs. Photo / ANZ

ANZ Bank has transformed some of its most-used ATM machines into vibrantly coloured, rhinestone covered 'GAYTMs' in support of the bank's diversity and inclusion policy.

The GAYTMs, which were first by introduced by ANZ Australia last year to celebrate the famous Sydney Mardi Gras, were commissioned in New Zealand as part of the bank's diversity programme, said ANZ chief financial officer and Pride Network executive sponsor Antonia Watson.

"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.

"The GAYTMs represent values that are important to all of us -- respect, inclusion, equality and acceptance."

The GAYTMs are located at 312 Ponsonby Rd, 122 Karangahape Rd and 45 Queen St in Auckland, and 22 Willis St in Wellington. They will remain in place throughout February.

The Queen St branch of ANZ would also display rainbow-coloured lights for the month.

The bank would donate proceeds from the use of non-ANZ customer cards from the GAYTMs to OUTline, a not-for-profit counselling service that supported people dealing with gender and sexuality issues.

The GAYTM at ANZ Ponsonby featured a design by acclaimed artist Reuben Paterson, who was of Maori and Scottish descent.

Paterson said 'Freedom Flowers' took its inspiration from the Rainbow Flag, and featured the native New Zealand flower, the Puawhananga or Clematis Paniculata.

"The Puawhananga's journey from the base of the forest to the treetops represents pride in the LBGT (lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender) community's own journey onward and upward," Paterson said.

As well their flamboyant designs, the GAYTMs also printed 'Freedom Flower' receipts and displayed support messages for the Pride and Out in the Park festivals in Auckland and Wellington this month.

Meanwhile, the Auckland War Memorial Museum will light up with all the colours of the rainbow on the weekend, to acknowledge the Pride Festival.

Included in the festivities was a spiritual Maori dawn ceremony at Okahu Bay, a black tie event and a large-scale outdoor family event.