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NZ Post to halve weekly deliveries

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NZ Post to halve weekly deliveries

3News NZ

The state-owned postal company has obligations to deliver six days a week (file pic)

The state-owned postal company has obligations to deliver six days a week (file pic)

Postal deliveries may be cut to three days a week under a plan put forward by New Zealand Post to ensure the company remains viable.

Communications Minister Amy Adams released a proposal from the national postal service today to allow "greater flexibility" in its services due to falling mail volumes.

NZ Post wants to change its universal service obligations, signed in 1998, which require it to deliver mail six days a week.

It wants to reduce the number of mail delivery days to a minimum of three days a week, and introducing more self-service kiosks.

Any changes would require Government approval, and the public has a chance to comment on the proposals.

"In deciding whether to accept or reject the proposal or seek to negotiate a compromise, I will look to balance the interests of postal users with the need to ensure a financially-viable postal service," says Ms Adams.

Last April, NZ Post chairman Michael Cullen wrote to State Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall warning that steps to make "fundamental changes to our operational models" needed to take place to cut costs, or delivery days may have to be axed.

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Comments

3/02/2013 1:21:09 p.m.

Erica wrote:

Our postal services are in dire straits, the level by employees of parcel theft, epedemic. Apparently as many as 1000 parcels a week go "missing" many of these being track & Trace. I am directly experiencing the frustration and emotional stress of an undelivered parcel which would seem never to have left the depot here in Nelson. Not the first time either, and that event was with Courier Post (high value item). Customers have no redress other than insurance, is surely better to provide a secure service than to rely on insurance to cover for the high level of dishonesty in postal workers. Is time for a ministerial enquiry If you can't trust your postal service to provide theft proof, reliable delivery, then yes - we are sliding into third world status.

31/01/2013 11:18:36 a.m.

Kim Pond wrote:

It is of strategic importance to maintain our present postal system for the day will come when emails will not be able to be sent because of technical difficulties or war or natural disaster or whatever.

30/01/2013 10:02:32 p.m.

Andrew wrote:

Sounds to me like NZ Post doesn't care about it's staff, nor the public. No wonder I don't write letters anymore, there's plenty of more efficient means of communication etc.

30/01/2013 10:55:04 a.m.

nicola atkinson wrote:

I am part of a large group of mothers working from home runninghobby businesses and we RELY heavily n post being daily not only for our supplies and imports to arrive timely but to get our orders filled and out to customers also. I'm in the post shop sending almost every day its open sometimes specing ALOT on postage. I also sent two hand written letters to family as recent as Dec 30th. If anything cut Saturdays but to go down to 3days a we is just a joke. Your not only going to cost posties their jobs but make the one that are left their jobs harder with the amount they'll have to deliver in one go! How about lowering the prices again so more people can afford to send letters and parcels more, your logic on upping the prices to get more parcels is just plain stupid! National are so greedy, so much for opening jobs around nz so far all IV seen ids people losing jobs from rediculous changes! I'm beyond disgusted and there are a large number of us really not happy with this proposed change. Find something else to change instead.

29/01/2013 6:11:11 p.m.

noel wrote:

wont make and difference to me .We only get a minimal of mail now most bils are online and auto payment dont write letters its all done on the computer nowadays and i am 80 if all else fails just pick up the phone

29/01/2013 2:39:55 p.m.

stuart wrote:

just another way of government to cut jobs and not caring about the increasing crime rates and the human cost good on ya governments of the world keeping the poor down so you can fill your pockets

29/01/2013 2:05:01 p.m.

funny_guy wrote:

I worked at NZ post from 99 to 02. I have to say this is the best thing for NZ post since most mail is now sent from computers. @Julia, NZ post is not going to care about parcels being delived fast, it costs a lot and I mean a lot of bucks to transport mail across NZ A LOT!. NZ Post you have got my vote!

29/01/2013 1:32:11 p.m.

Brett wrote:

Tons of people buying online nowadays, which makes this a really stupid idea. Is this a third world country? What western country has mail only 3 days a week??? This is ridiculous, to say the least. There are many businesses using NZ Post (mine included); we would all be forced to use couriers instead, so NZ Post will lose even more business.

29/01/2013 1:26:45 p.m.

Peter wrote:

We last week received a letter by mail from a waste services supplier dated 14/01/2013 and sent from Palmerston Nth. Arrival date in our letterbox at Waikanae Beach was 23/01/2013. Why 9 days to deliver such a short distance if mail loads are falling off?? If anything the delivery service should become faster.

29/01/2013 1:09:29 p.m.

Julia Lines wrote:

Well that is just silly. A lot of people like me who sell things on the internet will be at a loss, as we try to send things out as fast as possible. I expect 'we' will get a lot of complaints from customers wanting their parcels faster. The reason why your service is going slow is because some people find it cheaper to send parcels via a courier rather than through NZ post as you guys keep putting the prices up. I still use NZ post and the prepaid bags but if i cannot quarantine my parcels to get to my customers in a reasonable time frame then yes like the others i will be forced to use a courier. It also means that any item I buy will take twice as long to get to me too. This is NOT a good idea. Delivering just 3 days a week is going to damage what little respect you have.