In footage Ms Lessels had covertly filmed on her cellphone at the branch in Kopeopeo, Whakatane, the manager can be heard saying: "If you want to deal with us, you deal with us in English."

When Ms Lessels claimed that ASB, Westpac, Kiwibank and BNZ had never refused withdrawal slips written in Te Reo, the manager dismissed her claim as "rubbish" and said "you don't have to bank with us".

Ms Lessels wrote on Facebook that racism is "alive and well at Credit Union", and will no longer be banking with them after saying she was discrimination based on her ethnicity.

"[I was] refused the right to choose an official language of NZ to access what was mine, my money," she told Newshub.

"Apart from being shocked that he would openly demand I write in English, he refuted my suggestions that Credit Union Central was the only bank that required only English to be used.

"I was also indignant that this should never happen again to any of my people."

Ms Lessels says there was a Māori bank teller present, so the defence that no one would be able to understand her withdrawal slip is not justified.

"The teller was Māori and could understand - I assume she was just following orders. It is quite sad that she was unable to even exercise her knowledge," she said.