OK, got the email this afternoon from AirNZ:
"We've recently welcomed a number of new partners into the Airpoints™ programme, as well as a new partner to operate OneSmart™. This means we're issuing you with a new Airpoints card, which will also be your new OneSmart card. It should be in your letterbox in the next couple of weeks. This new card replaces your existing card and you'll need to transfer all of your existing OneSmart funds across to your new card, so you can keep spending overseas, just as you do now.
Airpoints card
Everything you need to know about the new OneSmart product is outlined in the documents below. Please read these and keep them for future reference.
Our records show that you have funds on your existing OneSmart card. You will have until 31 January 2017 to transfer all of your existing OneSmart funds across to your new card in the same currency. We will be closing your existing OneSmart card on 1 February 2017. This is in-line with your current OneSmart Account Terms and Conditions.
Keep an eye out for your new card and we'll email you soon after you receive it with all the information you need to transfer your funds and continue earning Airpoints Dollars next time you're overseas."
They are moving to using the Travelex cash passport product, which has been around for a few years but is also a standalone product: it appears none of the banks now offer a backed card, preferring to outsource and brand to this third party.
A few years ago, I had NB (then ANZ) travel cards which were eventually closed.... and migration offered to Travelex. I declined and used OneSmart, because the fees were cheaper, and as many folks here know they allowed address not verified payments (useful for places like Amazon etc).
I don't want to use travelex, but in looking around there seems to be no alternative offered in NZ. I don't know what Westpac's product is, but I'm surprised there is a lock on this market too.
What do people think?