New Zealand
Kiwis Get A New Way To Give
Auckland, 15 November 2006
NZ’s first global pre-paid gift card is here in time for Christmas
Help is at hand for people stressed about what to buy loved ones this Christmas - or any other time for that matter.
The New Zealand Post Visa “Prezzy Card” is the first and only pre-paid gift card of its kind in
The Prezzy Card is loaded once with as little as $25 or as much as $500. They can be used wherever Visa is accepted electronically - physically at the point-of-sale, over the Internet, by telephone and mail order and at more than 24 million merchant locations around the world.
New Zealand Post Payment Services General Manager Terese Tunnicliffe says the Prezzy Card is light years ahead of store gift cards and vouchers and is expected to be popular with Kiwis given our track record for embracing new financial technologies.
“What makes Prezzy Card special is you can use it almost anywhere. This means when you give someone a Prezzy Card they don’t have to spend it in a particular store like traditional gift vouchers and cards. It’s also the ideal gift to send friends and family overseas as they can use it to buy what they wish from any merchant who accepts Visa,” she says.
Pre-paid gift cards similar to the Prezzy Card are extremely popular overseas says Visa’s New Zealand Country Manager Iain Jamieson.
“Gift cards are one of the fastest growing payment cards internationally and we anticipate Kiwis will live up to their early adopter reputations and give them a go, either as a gift and stocking filler for Christmas or as a personal card.
“We’re sure New Zealanders will love the flexibility the Prezzy Card offers, not to mention the peace of mind they will get from giving the right gift every time. They are also safer than cash - and more fun.”
Mr Jamieson says the Prezzy Card is also a great option for young people. It offers financial control and the option to buy goods through more merchant channels such as over the Internet or by telephone, domains previously only available to credit card holders.
Ms Tunnicliffe says the Prezzy Card is the first in a range of payment products New Zealand Post plans to launch. “We are currently working on a number of other products for the corporate and consumer markets, so watch this space.”
Prezzy Cards can be bought for $5 from more than 300 participating PostShops throughout
To find out more about the new Prezzy Card visit: www.nzpost.co.nz/prezzycard.
Media Contacts
+64 4 462 7903
Richard MacLean
+64 4 496 4910
Andrew Craig
Porter Novelli NZ (on behalf of Visa International)
+64 9 632 0510
About Visa New Zealand
Visa is the leading payment brand in
