PostShops on way out for ‘partnerships’

Your local PostShop – if you still have one – is likely to soon be a thing of the past.

State-owned New Zealand Post is moving away from standalone PostShops and towards partnering with local businesses to put postal services in their premises.

A spokesperson said it was not a new strategy and more than 800 of its 880 outlets were now operated in partnership with local businesses. ‘‘This is our preferred model of working.’’

The closure of the last 79 standalone outlets may be hastened by NZ Post’s separation from Kiwibank, with which it shares PostShop branch locations.

That situation is being reviewed because the two businesses are pursuing different long-term strategies.

Unions have suggested 14 Kiwibank branches could close by Christmas.

The NZ Post spokesperson said it was not withdrawing postal services from any communities. Instead, it was looking for opportunities to tap into other local businesses. These searches could take some time.

‘‘Partnering with local businesses in this way is good for our customers, as these local businesses often have longer opening hours than traditional PostShops, and are often in locations that are more convenient,’’ the spokesperson said.

‘‘It works well for NZ Post as it allows us to stay in all these communities, and is more financially sustainable, and it works well for the businesses we partner with, who benefit from more customers coming through their doors to use postal services.’’

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the Government had concerns about what was happening with the NZ Post and bank closures.

NZ Post has an obligation to provide at least 880 outlets and post centres around the country.