Posties, couriers ask customers to keep their distance during deliveries

Thursday, 2 April 2020

NZ Post, Taranaki duty manager, Jarrod Campbell asks the community to let the posties have their bubble.

Posties and couriers are pleading for customers to stay two metres away during deliveries.

'We're having incidents like children running up to the postie to take the mail instead of waiting to get it from the mailbox, running out to couriers to get their parcel,' said Jarrod Campbell, one of NZ Post's two Taranaki service delivery managers.

And some customers have become upset when their postie or courier placed items on the ground instead of handing them over, but this was necessary, he said.

NZ Post Taranaki service delivery manager Jarrod Campbell hopes Kiwis will respect a two metre bubble around posties and couriers.

The issue was a nationwide problem as NZ Post posties, couriers and rural delivery staff around the country have moved to contactless deliveries while they work through the Covid-19 lockdown.

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Rather than handing mail and parcels directly to customers, they are placing the items in the mailbox or on the ground, then stepping back so the customers can pick it up.

'Please give us some space, we are not trying to be unfriendly, we just want to keep our two-metre bubble, to keep everybody safe.'

He said postal delivery staff were adapting to their changing way of working.

'It is an amazing time, there is so much fear and uncertainty out there, and we give some stability with what we do, going out and about.'

Instead of coming closer to speak to them, people could wave and call out, he said.

'Our posties enjoy talking to people and being part of their community, but we have to maintain that distance, just give us that little bit more room.'

Other measures underway to ensure customers and staff were kept safe included frequent hand washing, personal protective equipment where needed, using hand sanitiser and cleaning the depot and vehicles.

Although Postshops and depots were all closed to the public, people could still post their items by going online to the NZ Post website and requesting a pickup.

To ensure he can remain well and working, Campbell was spending two weeks away from his family while his son self-isolated at his home.

'My son flew back from Japan so I've had to move out. I waved at him from the end of the driveway, said see you in two weeks,' he said.

'I've Skyped and Zoomed with him over a year while he was in Japan. We have to do that a bit longer, and I'm doing that with my wife now as well.'