NZ Post said the decision comes after a thorough review of how customers use its urban retail services and ensures there will be the right service offerings in the right locations.<\/p>\n
Of the 142 stores closing, 29 will be in Auckland and 22 are in Christchurch.<\/p>\n
The change follows an update to the Deed of Understanding, an agreement between NZ Post and the Government, which resets the minimum store requirements for the first time in about 40 years and allows the service to change its retail network.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile these changes will see NZ Post remove services from 142 urban retail partner stores nationwide in 2026, the remaining network of 567 stores will still be significantly larger than any New Zealand supermarket or bank branch network,\u201d NZ Post general manager consumer Sarah Sandoval said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, 90% of Kiwis living in urban areas will still be within 4km of an NZ Post store.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018What a joke\u2019 <\/p>\n
Following the announcement this afternoon, people took to social media to share their concerns.<\/p>\n
One described the service NZ Post is providing as a \u201cjoke\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho in their right mind closes an agency at a hospital. Specifically, Christchurch and Burwood hospitals. <\/p>\n
\u201cDo they really expect patients to leave their beds and walk for kilometres to the nearest agency. This decision is absolutely dumb,\u201d another told the Herald. <\/p>\n
NZ Post said the decision comes after a thorough review of how customers use its urban retail services. Photo \/ File <\/p>\n
\u201cWe now are left with only one postal service place in one of the largest suburbs in Wellington, and it\u2019s inside a tiny Mobil petrol station. <\/p>\n
\u201cRidiculous,\u201d another said. <\/p>\n
Others on social media claimed that their local post shops are often very busy and were confused by the move by NZ Post. <\/p>\n
\u201cWouldn\u2019t have thought there were that many left to close! It\u2019s really hard finding a post shop nowadays when you need to post something,\u201d another said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSome people don\u2019t drive. A lot of people don\u2019t know how to do stuff online either. Leave the post offices alone,\u201d another angry post shop user said. <\/p>\n
Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith said it was unfortunate the people of Linton will now have to make the 25km-plus round trip into Palmerston North city for NZ Post and parcel services.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand postal services have decreased significantly over the years, and this closure is an unfortunate sign of the times. However, there is also strong parcel and courier growth,\u201d Smith said. <\/p>\n
What stores are impacted? <\/p>\n