Good news for Ōpōtiki travellers – getting your holiday money no longer means a trip out of town or a wait for the bank.

Ōpōtiki Paper Plus along with Paper Plus stores in Te Puke, Bethlehem, Waihi, and Katikati have teamed up with foreign exchange company Travelex to bring trusted currency exchange back to their communities.

Customers will be able to buy from over 40 currencies under the Travelex brand – either over the counter, or online through the Travelex and Paper Plus websites for collection in store.

Buying currency before travelling allows customers to lock in a known amount at a known rate – and land at their destination with local cash already in their pocket for their taxi or first meal, without need to immediately find an ATM.

Paper Plus chief executive officer Carrie Welch said the partnership was about stepping up as other services stepped back.

“As other services and businesses move away from smaller local communities, we see an opportunity to step up and make a meaningful difference.

“Our independently owned and operated stores care deeply about their communities, and this partnership helps keep important services local and accessible.”