Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Worries for rural delivery over post service cuts

Updated at 11:26 am on 24 February 2013

Rural delivery contractors are lobbying people to write to the Government opposing New Zealand Post's proposal to reduce deliveries to three days a week.

New Zealand Post wants to cut the number of days it is required to deliver mail from six to three a week due to falling mail volumes and also proposes replacing some postal outlets with self-service kiosks.

Rural Delivery Contractors Associationex ecutive officer Ray Oakley said a reduction in delivery days to fewer than five a week would make the majority of the country's 550 rural delivery businesses unviable.

Mr Oakley said reducing delivery days to three would also compromise the other services rural delivery contractors provide.

He says as well as picking up mail, the contractors deliver courier parcels, groceries, farm machinery parts, urgent medical supplies and many other items.

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