Hutt City Council has announced it will stop accepting cash payments at its Laings Rd administration building from 1 September.
The announcement marks the first stage of Council’s move away from cash payments at selected facilities. The Council says libraries and Neighbourhood Hubs will transition later this year, following a review of the first stage.
Pools, fitness centres, galleries and museums will continue to accept cash until a practical and accessible alternative is available.
“Very few people now pay Council in cash. Moving away from cash reflects this low demand and will save staff time and reduce the costs of counting, checking, transporting and banking,” Council said in a statement.
“Cash is now used for only a small proportion of Council payments, but it is costly and time-consuming to process. At some smaller locations, handling costs can use up to half the cash received.”
The Council said cash handling also creates avoidable safety and security risks for staff.
Customers who currently pay by cash are encouraged to speak with the customer service team to discuss payment options available to them.
Council says it will continue to make arrangements on a case-by-case basis for debt repayment, hardship and business continuity.
