Hospital post shop and bank closes its doors
Auckland City Hospital has lost its New Zealand Post and Kiwibank bookshop.
Hospital Books owner Tony McLeod said his book shop had held the lease for nearly 13 years at the hospital, servicing the needs of patients, their families and staff.
The store has New Zealand Post and Kiwibank services.
He said the lease had not been renewed by the hospital and its last day was March 31.
‘‘I am extremely disappointed, my staff have all been made redundant and are seeking employment elsewhere,’’ McLeod said.
The shop had four full time staff.
McLeod said he would not comment further on why the lease had not been extended.
‘‘The hospital didn’t give me a satisfactory answer,’’ McLeod said.
An Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) spokesperson said the New Zealand Post service would close until a new vendor was found.
It would not say why Hospital Books’ lease was not renewed.
ADHB was working with New Zealand Post and other potential tenants retailers to ensure postal services and other products such as magazine, cards and books remain at the hospital.
The ADHB spokesperson said Paper Plus would open a pop-up store in May and provide New Zealand Post services at the hospital until a long-term tenant had been found.
A New Zealand Post spokesperson said its post box would remain in its current location.
‘‘Patients and staff will still be able to send and receive letters, as well as receive parcels.’’
However, Kiwibank services will no longer be available at the hospital.
Newton and Newmarket are the closest Kiwibank outlets, more than 2 kilometres away.
However, the state-owned companies are trying to find businesses to take over its services at Newton as well as Auckland Airport.
Earlier in March New Zealand Post and Kiwibank announced it would close its Greenlane shop in June.
This came after it was unable to find a host-business for the service.
In 2011, New Zealand Post closed seven of its post shop and Kiwibank stores.
‘‘The hospital didn't give me a satisfactory answer.’’