Bank staff pitch in to aid Plunket

PHILANTHROPY:Masterton BNZ volunteers Jacque Gray (left), Darren Murray and Kris Campsare tooled up to lend a helping hand at a renovated Plunket building. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Bank of New Zealand banks stood empty yesterday as staff headed out to help with community projects as part of their national "Closed for Good" day.

The day away from a desk was no excuse for idleness, however, and a small squad of BNZ employees, armed with sponges, sprays and dusters, were hard at work spring cleaning the new Plunket Centre in Masterton.

The centre has been closed for renovations since February but is planned to reopen next week, with all Plunket services, including car seat rentals, offered in one place.

It was a bustle of activity as BNZ volunteers helped with last-minute preparations for the opening of the centre.

Amid the bustle, BNZ team leader Jacque Gray paused to say it was a great day for the eight staff who chose to volunteer at Plunket. "It's a fun day out of the office and it's good for the community."

Wairarapa Plunket chairwoman Trish Thomson, called it a win-win situation.

"It's fantastic having them here, it's really good. Otherwise, we would have had to call and pay for commercial cleaners to come in," she said.

Other Wairarapa BNZ staff were dotted around the region, helping out at Gladstone School, Carterton library, and Plunket Martinborough.

They were part of more than 3000 BNZ employees lending a hand to more than 500 community groups nationally.