New Zealand Post: 3 Days a Week from July

[LordCrumb]

New Zealand Post will cut mail delivery in urban areas to three days a week from July.

The State Owned Enterprise has been telling staff of the move today, which follows a change to its deed of understanding with the Government in 2013.

The move is a step to protect the organisation from a fall in mail volumes which is hitting profitability.

Mail and communications chief operating officer Ashley Smout confirmed standard mail would be delivered every second day to households in urban areas starting from July in larger towns and cities.

Over the following two years it would be rolled out to smaller centres.

"The way we plan to roll out these changes means we will continue to meet our delivery targets for standard letters," he said.

"We're confident customers will see very little, if any, difference in the services they receive from New Zealand Post as a result of these delivery changes."

Smout said that despite the changes, NZ Post's target of 95 per cent delivery of standard mail within three days remained in place, while priority mail and courier delivery would continue to operate six days a week.

Alternate delivery days will be tested in parts of Auckland centred on Ellerslie "to fine-tune the changes before the July rollout" NZ Post said in a statement.

Rural delivery would remain "largely unchanged" as would the targets for FastPost.

Meanwhile NZ Post said it would hold larger trials in New Plymouth of vehicles to help it deliver an increasing proportion of parcels.

"We're making these changes in response to people sending fewer letters. Our analysis shows the average household receives letters just three days a week," Smout said.

GOVERNMENT APPROVAL REQUIRED

When the changes to the deed were signalled by the Government at the start of 2013, Communications Minister Amy Adams warned of a looming plunge in postal volumes.

"During the last 10 years mail volumes have dropped considerably, with 265 million fewer items being posted each year compared to 2002," Adams said.

"Within five years, mail volumes are forecast to be nearly half what they were in 2002. In light of those significant reductions in mail volume, New Zealand Post is seeking to make changes to the Universal Service Obligations it is bound by."

Adams said the changes would require government approval, and public feedback would be sought.

"In deciding whether to accept or reject the proposal or seek to negotiate a compromise, I will look to balance the interests of postal users with the need to ensure a financially-viable postal service," she said.

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz

[stevo4264]

As soon as the Government approves it, Australia will be doing the same thing

[PLG1962]

Originally Posted by stevo4264

As soon as the Government approves it, Australia will be doing the same thing

I remember this was being mentioned a few months back for Australia

for one I don't really care as besides overseas blu-ray packages, some bills and invoices for things for my dad I cant remember the last ACTUAL letter I got

It wouldn't surprise me that some people wouldn't even know what a letter was

[hdgfs]

Isn't it letters only? That was the proposal for Australia, the parcel delivery would continue 5 days a week. Parcel delivery profit for Auspost was up 21% last year and that no longer covers the loss on the letter delivery.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-0...losses/5719188

[L-Rouge]

It has been on the cards a few years now, it is sad to see this become a reality.

[PLG1962]

Originally Posted by L-Rouge

It has been on the cards a few years now, it is sad to see this become a reality.

Playing devil's advocate as I said above do you remember the last time you actually got a letter?

The way I see it its just added to the list of things we wont have in the future

Money/Cash
Books/Magazines
Letters
Good Manners

[malcy30]

Some comments from a UK member.

Royal Mail in the UK have been pushing to stop Saturday deliveries for some years now, the government wont let them though. You already only get a Monday to Friday delivery service from the state mail company in some other European countries.

They already do a quasi 3 days a week delivery in some areas across Monday to Saturday, so only every other day. Although not official policy, my sister has this and they use the excuse that they can not recruit the delivery staff to cover all the rounds. If you have any next day items they come via van now rather the post person walking their round (they also stopped them cycling a few years ago).

[PLG1962]

Originally Posted by malcy30

Some comments from a UK member.

Royal Mail in the UK have been pushing to stop Saturday deliveries for some years now, the government wont let them though. You already only get a Monday to Friday delivery service from the state mail company in some other European countries.

FYI we don't have Saturday deliveries here in Australia and I doubt in NZ either but happy to stand corrected

[LordCrumb]

Originally Posted by PLG1962

Playing devil's advocate as I said above do you remember the last time you actually got a letter?

The way I see it its just added to the list of things we wont have in the future

Money/Cash
Books/Magazines
Letters
Good Manners

Yeah you see NZ Post also carries parcels.. which will effect Amazon deliveries.

Originally Posted by PLG1962

FYI we don't have Saturday deliveries here in Australia and I doubt in NZ either but happy to stand corrected

Stand corrected as for now, until the new dates come in.

[L-Rouge]

Originally Posted by PLG1962

Playing devil's advocate as I said above do you remember the last time you actually got a letter?

The way I see it its just added to the list of things we wont have in the future

Money/Cash
Books/Magazines
Letters
Good Manners

Today actually. 2 of them haha.
the concern is for parcel handling that LordCrumb mentions of course.

[PLG1962]

Originally Posted by L-Rouge

Today actually. 2 of them haha.
the concern is for parcel handling that LordCrumb mentions of course.

at the risk of being nosey [and you don't need to reply, if you dont want to] can you clarify it was not a bill etc etc but something handwritten/typed that a friend or family member sent you that's what i'm defining as a "letter"

[L-Rouge]

hand written indeed.

[Caustic]

There's another far more balanced take in this doing the rounds that says courier deliveries will still occur Monday to Saturday at this stage and there are no changes to rural routes and areas

[stevo4264]

I'm probably not the best qualified here to explain this but I'll give it a go.


Parcels and packets will not be affected, in most metro areas Saturday delivery for parcels is now the norm.


Next time you get a letter look at the top right hand corner where it says Postage paid Australia, some will have "Priority" printed under that, they have paid extra to get that delivered asap(within current timetables) , if it just has postage paid australia(regular delivery) it will take 1-2 days longer, this has been in effect since last year for any Business.

If you(Individual) post a letter with a stamp on it, it will go Priority, they want to change that so a basic letter is just classified as regular delivery unless you pay more for Priority delivery.

When Something is posted Regular, Post have the option of only having to deliver these items 3 days a week as they will be on a slower Timetable. (that is where the 3 day a week delivery term comes from)

Anything that is priority or a parcel, packets, E-parcels etc will all still be delivered everyday