New building brings Taranaki 's NZ Post services under one roof

Monday, 15 May 2017

On Monday, NZ Post officially opened its new Taranaki operations centre on Smart Rd in New Plymouth.

Postal and courier services for Taranaki are now under one roof after New Zealand Post officially unveiled its new premises on Monday.

The new building on Smart Rd in Waiwhakaiho will be a hub for all postal services in the region, including the base for the overnight courier, parcel processing and mail distribution.

NZ Post delivery vehicles will be based at the region's new premises in Waiwhakaiho.

NZ Post's Taranaki area service delivery manager Jasen Hesseltine said the 2500 square-metre site was an 'investment' for the region and would result in a 'more efficient operation and better services for customers.'

'Bringing our operations together at one site is a significant investment for NZ Post's overnight courier and parcel distribution network in Taranaki,' he said.

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The facility will be used by about 70 employees of the company, including posties, couriers, rural delivery contractors, processing and administration staff.

The city's electric delivery vehicle fleet will also be housed at the new operations centre, which would mean extra mileage for some as they make their way around the city to deliver mail.

'They are being used in residential areas where the terrain is suitable and where permission has been granted by the local council,' Hesseltine said.

In addition to the centralisation of the courier and postal services, the private mail box lobby has now been re-located from its former King St base to Taranaki Stationery in the Richmond Centre on Egmont St in New Plymouth.

'This has enabled the lobby to remain in the central business district and in a convenient location for customers,' he said.

Rebecca Johnson, Taranaki Chamber of Commerce's membership development manager, said the new facility was a 'critical' link for businesses in the region to national and global markets.

The building vacated by NZ Post, on the corner of King and Dawson Sts, has yet to be sold.