PostShop dither

New Zealand Post is no closer to deciding on new premises for Mana PostShop.

The company decided last year to downsize the Mana store, as part of a nationwide strategy to have PostShops operating within an existing business.

More than half the country’s 265 PostShops now operate under this model.

While rumoured sites for a new Mana franchise include BP and New World, nothing had been locked in yet, said Tracey Berry, New Zealand Post’s general manager for retail distribution.

Progress was being made, she said, but the commercial sensi- tivity of the process means no update could be given until an agreement was reached with a host business.

‘‘We will let the community know as soon as we have secured [this]. I can assure you that we remain committed to services in Mana,’’ she said.

Mana MP Kris Faafoi received about 800 replies from a survey he sent to residents in Porirua’s northern suburbs, 95 per cent of which favoured the Mana PostShop staying as it is.

Meanwhile, Berry said a post office in Porirua’s CBD depended on Porirua City Council’s city centre revitalisation plans.

The post office and Kiwibank branch were relocated to the MegaCentre in late 2012, because of earthquake concerns in the CBD building.

Berry said the positive customer feedback towards the MegaCentre store has been ‘‘unprecedented’’.

‘‘The MegaCentre location is serving many of our customers well, though we recognise others found the old location more convenient,’’ she said.

Kapi-Mana News is aware of some negative feedback concerning the decision on February 23, to change the opening time of the post office from 8.30am to 9am.

Berry said that was to allow for training during the first 30 minutes each morning.

The store would still be open from 8.30am till 1pm on Saturdays, however.