27 Jul 2016

Karitane residents push back over postal plans

10:59 am on 27 July 2016

Residents of a coastal Otago village are upset at New Zealand Post's plans to stop using the local store as a mail collection point.

NZ Post post box

New Zealand Post has delayed delivery service changes in Karitane to allow a period of consultation with local residents. Photo: 123RF

New Zealand Post wants to stop people collecting their mail from the store and instead operate a rural delivery in the coastal Otago village.

But it has agreed to delay its decision after residents vented their frustration at a community meeting last night.

Geoff Lyell, who lives in Karitane, told Morning Report he was hopeful the status quo would remain.

"It's not fit for purpose, a rural delivery here in an urban area," he said.

Mr Lyell said around 175 of the 180 permanent local Karitane residents picked up their mail from the local store.

He was optimistic a win-win agreement could be reached.

"New Zealand Post were quite receptive last night to trying to work through it."

NZ Post said it had agreed that Counter Delivery would continue until November to allow for further discussion with local representatives on the best delivery option for the town.