Shop closure fails to deliver
New Zealand Post’s controversial decision to close a popular Palmerston North post shop has left customers bewildered.
Yesterday, NZ Post and Kiwibank announced the post shop on Church St will merge with a central city the shop on Main St, near the courthouse.
Kiwibank will remain in the prime Church St Location, but customers fear they will have to lug parcels further as parking on Main St is scarce.
Alise Ghiakopian said she posted parcels from the Church St post shop because she had a bad leg and there were always car parks available.
It was ridiculous to close a post shop that always had a ‘‘hell of a queue’’, Ghiakopian said.
‘‘I can’t believe that’s what they are doing.’’
DJ Matt Davies uses the Church St post shop nearly every day to send records.
He knew all the staff and liked the convenience of the post shop being close to the city centre, but just far away enough to have good parking options.
‘‘It’s a real shame. This one for me is way more useful.’’
Most people Davies knew used the Church St post shop, he said.
Kiwibank and NZ Post spokeswoman Holly Thompson said the creation of a standalone Kiwibank branch would create more specialised customer and banking services.
NZ Post is also looking for a business to run its services in Terrace End, as the post shop on Ruahine St is also closing, instead becoming a standalone Kiwibank.
NZ Post still hasn’t set a date for the closures, Thompson said.
Grey Power Manawatu president Lew Findlay said the change was going to be difficult for older people who used the Church St post shop for its convenient parking. ‘‘The lack of parking next to the shop in Main St is nowhere near enough.
‘‘Are older people supposed to walk for miles to post letters?’’
The only benefit to Main St was its proximity to the bus stop, but it was difficult to find parking in the central city, Findlay said. ‘‘I just think NZ Post have done this without even considering how it’s going to affect older people.’’
Findlay hoped Terrace End post shop’s services would be run from a location that still had decent parking options, he said.
Thompson would not comment about which Palmerston North branch was the busiest.
Seven staff worked at the Church St post shop and Kiwibank and six worked at Terrace End, she said.
Thompson did not say whether the changes would affect staffing numbers, but she said standalone Kiwibanks were introduced in Auckland and some people lost their jobs, but were offered new ones at other branches.
Kiwibank and NZ Post general retail distribution manager Geoff Waller said the two existing Kiwibank standalone sites in New Zealand were performing well.
‘‘We’re excited to bring this model to Palmerston North.’’