New Zealand Post is introducing some changes to its PostShop network in Christchurch in October, and is proposing a new store at Northwood.
From 21 October South City PostShop will continue to offer postal services, but will no longer provide bill pay services, and the Linwood PostShop is expected to continue to offer postal services, but will no longer provide bill payment and financial transactions.
The Redwood PostShop will close on 2 October 2009. New Zealand Post has been advised by the franchisees that they will be closing their toy and book business on this date. Unfortunately, New Zealand Post will not be able to offer sending courier and packaging services through this location after this date.
A new proposed Northwood store is currently expected to open early next year.
Michelle van Gaalen, Group Manager Retail, said the changes are part of an ongoing review of New Zealand Post’s network of over 900 PostShops and PostCentres.
“In the past year we have made more than 20 significant enhancements to our network of over 300 PostShops; we’ve opened new stores, refurbished them or relocated them to better places to improve our services.
“Our objective is to ensure we provide the appropriate level of service in locations where our customers seek to do business with us, both now and in the future.
“To meet the needs of the majority of our customers, we regularly review the locations of our PostShops, which includes assessing the surrounding area of each PostShop in addition to shopping habits and future trends.”
Ms van Gaalen said the proposal to open a new PostShop Kiwibank in the growing shopping destination of Northwood reflected current and expected population growth in that area.
Linwood
The Linwood PostShop, operated in conjunction with a bookshop at Stanmore Road, currently offers postal services, as well as some agency and limited Kiwibank transaction services.
As the PostShop does not offer a full Kiwibank service and is close to other PostShop Kiwibanks, it will become a PostCentre from 2 November, offering postal services and continued operation of a 156-box private box lobby.
Customers wanting bill payment and full Kiwibank services will be directed to one of three PostShop Kiwibanks all within 2km of the Linwood store. These are the Ferrry Road PostShop Kiwibank in the growing area of Phillipstown, about 1.4km away, the Eastgate PostShop Kiwibank, refurbished in 2007, in Buckley’s Road about 1.6km away, and the Cathedral Square North store, about 1.7km away in Colombo Street.
South City
The SouthCity PostShop will transition to a PostCentre and offer postal and courier services from 21 October. Run in conjunction with a host Lotto shop, the South City store within the Colombo Street mall currently provides postal and bill payment services, but does not offer any Kiwibank services.
With increasing demand by customers for Kiwibank services, and an inability to physically redevelop the South City site to include them, New Zealand Post has decided to focus activity on the Colombo Street PostShop Kiwibank, 500 metres away. Sydenham PostShop Kiwibank is also within 1km of South City.
Redwood
The Redwood PostShop at Main North Rd, Redwood, currently offers postal services, bill payment and limited financial services in conjunction with a host books and toys business.
Ms van Gaalen said New Zealand Post had hoped the offer of a PostCentre arrangement would be acceptable to the franchisees, particularly given their desire not to provide Kiwibank, however that was not the case.
Ms van Gaalen said options for people using the Redwood are currently the upgraded PostShop Kiwibank at Papanui about 2.1km away, and the Bishopdale PostShop Kiwibank about 3.7km away. New Zealand Post is also looking to open a new store in the Northwood area about 2km away and hope to have this opened before Christmas.
She regretted the franchisees have decided to close their books and toy business which means that New Zealand Post’s offer to continue offering courier, postal and packaging services as a PostCentre has not been accepted.
“We know the franchisees at Redwood have contributed years of service in Redwood and we wish them well for the future,” said Ms van Gaalen.
“While we appreciate these changes may inconvenience some people we have to take account of the needs of the majority of our customers. At the end of the day we have to use our resources as effectively as possible and make sure that we have a business that is sustainable both now and in the future. Part of our future is Kiwibank,” said Ms van Gaalen.
She said there had been a number of changes to the PostShop network in Christchurch in recent years. While services at some stores had reduced or been re-located for a variety of reasons, there had also been many improvements, including major upgrading of the Barrington, Upper Riccarton and Papanui stores and the opening of new stores in Eastgate, Colombo Street and Cathedral Square. In addition to the proposed new store at Northwood the Hornby PostShop Kiwibank is also scheduled for refurbishment early next year.
ENDS
Contact:
Keith FitzPatrick
Media Communications Manager
New Zealand Post
04 496 4566
027 453 9882