NZ Post to close 79 standalone Post Shops as part of cost-cutting move

Tuesday, 27 November 2018

New Zealand Post wants to shut its last 79 post shops but won't say when the last branch will close its doors.

New Zealand Post plans to close its last remaining 79 standalone post shops as it continues its shifts towards having postal service counters in other shops

Documents released under the Official Information Act (OIA) revealed the closure of these post shops was part of a nationwide strategy to offer services at 'third party hosted agencies', such as supermarkets and convenience stores.

The information was obtained by Wellington community group Johnsonville Community Association (JCA), which was calling on local businesses to 'refuse' to work with New Zealand Post in solidarity with its community.

Standalone Post Shops will soon be a thing of the past. (File photo)

A similar call had been made in Stoke, by National MP Nick Smith.

Labour MPs are upset at the possible closure of Kiwibank and NZ Post branches around Wellington.

* Kiwibank to close branches in parts of northern Wellington and Lower Hutt

* Four NZ Post and Kiwibank branches to close in Dunedin

* NZ Post to maintain presence in Wellington suburbs, despite imminent closures**

JCA spokesman Simon Pleasants said NZ Post had a duty a state-owned enterprise to prove it was socially responsible.

The Kiwibank and Post Shop in the Lower Hutt suburb of Petone was recently tipped for closure.

'We want NZ Post to prove how swapping a full post shop for a supermarket counter works well for its customers. How would NZ Post know? It didn't even consult local people to find out what they thought.'

A New Zealand Post spokesperson downplayed the closure of standalone post shops, saying the company was not withdrawing services from any communities and had already been using the outsourcing model.

'This is not a new strategy, NZ Post has been working in this way for many years now.'

The search for local business partners could be lengthy, so no changes to postal services would be made until a suitable business was found, which could take 'many months'.

'Partnering with local businesses in this way is good for our customers as these local businesses often have longer opening hours than traditional post shops and are often in locations that are more convenient.'

The model also worked well for the partner businesses, as it meant more customers coming through their doors.

'It works well for NZ Post as it allows us to stay in all these communities, and is more financially sustainable.'

The revelation comes after Kiwibank recently announced the closures of branches in the Lower Hutt suburb of Petone, Wellington suburb of Johnsonville and Stoke, with the post shops in those buildings now needing to relocate.

New Zealand Post head of retail Mark Yagmich said the company would be working alongside Kiwibank to keep staff, customers and local community informed.

'Kiwibank have announced they plan to operate a stand-alone branch in Lower Hutt. While we acknowledge this will be a change, we'd like to reassure our customers that postal services will continue to be provided to each of these communities.'