The AA Centre in Hāwera is scheduled to close down by the end of the month, after seven decades in operation.

The centre, which was opened in the 1950s, is located at Princes Street. It provides various services, such as AA membership, insurance, vehicle registration and driver licensing. Beginning July 05, the services will be offered at i-Site, 55 High Street, through a partnership between the Automobile Association and the South Taranaki District Council, Stuff reported.

Sheelah Ranson, AA national manager for government contracts, said that the AA Centres in New Plymouth and Whanganui will continue operating as usual. Ranson also confirmed that AA will not withdraw its services from the region.

It is unknown whether any jobs will be affected by the Hāwera centre’s closure.

As companies embrace digital technology, they become less reliant on physical locations to conduct their business. However, not all customers support this, and some, especially those from older generations, become upset.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated this trend, with IAG announcing that it will close all its stores in New Zealand last year.