NZ Post shop to close in south Invercargill, upsetting residents
South Invercargill is losing its NZ Post Shop, another blow for the area’s elderly residents, a pensioner says.
The branch owner, Steve Jo, said his NZ Post business, located in the former United Video building, had become financially unviable and was closing on April 18.
Jill Dickson, one of a steady stream of customers to the NZ Post shop on Wednesday morning, was unhappy that it would be closed. “I pay all my bills here ... where am I going to go next?
“Everything is changing. They aren’t making it easier for the elderly people.”
Glenis Lemon, a pensioner who has lived in south Invercargill all her life, said older people in the area who did not own vehicles walked to the NZ Post shop to do their business.
“We haven’t got a bank or a post office [in south city]. People need to be aware what’s happening under their noses, because when it’s gone, we won’t get another one.”
Jo said he had wanted to retain reduced services at the Post Shop for the community, but after discussions with NZ Post, the only options available to him were to either retain a full service or close the shop.
“I understand the frustrations of this decision for the community, but I would like to ask the public to show some respect and kindness to our staff [who are] affected,” he said.
It was understood that two staff members would lose their jobs as a result of the closure.
A NZ Post spokesperson said it was given notice in November that the owner of both the south Invercargill Post Shop and the Glengarry Post Shop agency store wanted to end their contracts with NZ Post.
“At that time, the owner signalled he would like to reduce NZ Post services at the south Invercargill branch before closing it fully. The request to reduce services before closing was declined after reviewing the number of NZ Post services already on offer in Invercargill.”
NZ Post was happy to continue its contract with the owner, but only if full services were offered at the South Invercargill branch, the spokesperson said.
“NZ Post was notified the owner did not want to continue to offer full services, which led to the decision to close on 18 April 2024.”
The post office boxes at the site will be relocated to the Invercargill Box Lobby in Don St, Invercargill, and will be available from April 19.
After the South City NZ Post Shop closed, Invercargill would still have three full-service stores – one in Waikiwi, one in central Invercargill and one in north Invercargill, the spokesperson said. Another three postal centre agencies remained, in Newfield, Sylvan and Avenal.
Jo also owns the Kiwibank branch at the same location as the now-closing south Invercargill NZ Post Shop, and said he was in discussions with Kiwibank to retain that service.