Five posties gone as NZ Post changes begin

Five Dunedin posties have taken voluntary redundancy in the mail delivery service scale down, New Zealand Post has confirmed.

Another two on fixed term contracts would finish in August, but ''there is the possibility of more work for them'', New Zealand Post Otago manager Murray Rei said.

It left 45 permanent posties and 16 on call or temporary staff in Dunedin. The mail delivery change starts in Dunedin today.

In Mosgiel, where it took effect last week, one postie had taken voluntary redundancy, leaving four posties.

''Regarding jobs, we have made every effort to accommodate people's preferences and there have been no compulsory redundancies,'' Mr Rei said.

The reduction of the service to three days per week has raised concern about whether New Zealand Post's network should have been opened up to competitors.

It carries mail for private providers such as DX Mail, which is building its own network but uses New Zealand Post in some parts of the country.

But Mr Rei said private mail volumes were declining along with the overall volume.

''Over the five years to June 2014, volumes from these providers declined slightly and now accounts for around 15% of letter deliveries.

''These items are included in our [overall] mail volume figures.''

Postal Workers Union spokesman John Maynard accused the Government of ''sabotage'' for allowing private providers to access the network. The union has been campaigning against the removal of many letterboxes from the community.

''Posties are really upset about having to help private companies take the business off a state owned enterprise.''

The voluntary redundancies reflected the fact ''so many people want to get out''. He believed New Zealand Post had not emphasised that FastPost and other priority mail was still delivered six days a week.

''The people who put out that [flyer advertising the changes] are in the business of communication but they haven't communicated that this is a six day delivery service, and that's specifically what we asked them to do.

''If you want to compete with DX Mail, put out information that tells people it's a six day service.''

However, Mr Rei said the public had been told to continue checking their letterboxes six days a week for priority mail. Communications Minister Amy Adams said rivals had had access to the postal network since 1998, and ''as far as I'm aware it's simply business as usual''.

''I am unaware of any claims by the Postal Workers Union.

''Competition in the marketplace is healthy and beneficial to business and consumers alike.

''It provides greater consumer choice and drives NZ Post to be more efficient and innovative, benefiting consumers and taxpayers.''

The mail downturn was caused by the growth of digital communication, rather than direct competition, Ms Adams said.

''The changes I agreed in 2013 during a review of NZ Post's deed of understanding will provide it with the flexibility it needs to move towards a more sustainable business model, which better reflects changing consumer preferences and market demand.

-eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz

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