On Wednesday, the Regional Economic Development Minister said he had lobbied both Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr and Finance Minister Grant Robertson to look at measures to keep frontline financial services available in regional New Zealand.

He said the presence of these essential financial services was a key issue for provincial economies.

The past few years have seen dozens of branches close in rural and provincial centres.

Jones, who has recently hit out at Air NZ for its treatment of the regions, said the foreign-owned banks were taking home billions in profits, and should have some kind of an obligation to Kiwis.

The NZ First minister spoke to Orr about whether a provision of service could be included as part of bank licensing. . . . . >