Video Ezy pulls out of New Zealand; future undecided for Whanganui store

Desiree Wright (left) and Linda Spence in Whanganui's family-owned Video Ezy store.

The future of Whanganui's Video Ezy store is uncertain after its Australian parent company announced it is pulling out of New Zealand.

Linda and John Spence and their daughter Desiree Wright have co-owned the Whanganui DVD rental store since 2011.

Stuff reported on Wednesday, May 2, that there are only six Video Ezy stores remaining in New Zealand and, following the parent company's decision to exit the New Zealand market, three of them would open as independent non-franchised businesses. Those stores are in Katikati, Carterton and Hamilton.

Wright said her family had not yet made a decision about their store's future and whether it would be possible to operate it independently.

"We currently have the paperwork at the lawyers for some advice."

She expected they would make a decision next week.

In September last year, Linda Spence told the Wanganui Chronicle the store had lots of regular customers and was still getting new sign-ups despite the growth of online streaming and illegal downloading which had killed off many other DVD rental stores.