In October last year, NZ Post gave the Otago Daily Times a list of nine services across the region which it planned to close, which included the post shop facilities at the Kaikorai Valley Night ’n Day and the Weston Four Square.
The Crown-owned company announced yesterday NZ Post services were ending at Albert Town Tavern (Alison Ave, Albert Town), Maori Hill Dairy (Highgate, Dunedin), Night ’n Day Octagon (Princes St, Dunedin), Caversham Pharmacy (South Rd, Dunedin), Musselburgh Pharmacy (Musselburgh Rise, Dunedin), Prince Albert Rd Dairy (Prince Albert Rd, Dunedin), Brighton Store (Brighton Rd, Brighton), Brockville Supermarket (Brockville Rd, Dunedin) and Lotto ’n Things (Thames Highway, Oamaru).
Services were also ending at Invercargill’s NZ Post Avenal (Herbert St), NZ Post Newfield (Centre St) and NZ Post Sylvan Bank (Yarrow St).
The post shop at Kaikorai Valley was closed earlier this month after NZ Post did not renew the contract, and the Weston Four Square supermarket was recently taken over by new owners and the post contract was not renewed there either.
However, since then, NZ Post at Night ’n Day Octagon, in Dunedin, and NZ Post North End at Lotto ’n Things, in Oamaru, were added to the list and would be closed this year.
NZ Post’s announcement said the changes would "help to ensure its urban retail network has the right number of stores with the right service offerings in the right locations".
But shop owners say adding two extra shops to the chopping block was unnecessary and accused NZ Post of putting profits ahead of people.
"But it actually came as a surprise when my NZ Post rep rang me last week and told me that they’re looking to take the Octagon NZ Post as well.
"Before Christmas, she actually told me the Octagon was a good performing store and it wouldn’t be a problem with holding on to my NZ Post contract.
"They’ve done a 360 turn and they haven’t given me a reason why."
If nine stores were enough to ensure NZ Post’s urban network had the right number of stores, he questioned why it needed to add two more stores to the list.
He believed NZ Post was gearing the company more towards making money rather than making things better for customers by rationalising its network.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if they cut more in Dunedin if they’re cutting the Octagon service.
"[Customers] might have to go to one distribution point eventually. That’s where the whole thing is going."
He said he planned to challenge the decision.
Brighton Store operator Kathy Meikle believed adding two more stores to the Otago list was "very convenient" for NZ Post.
"There’s a lot of people up in arms about it. It just reinforces my view that they’re out to make more money.
"It’s a money-making scam if you ask me.
"It’s ratshit, because it means people in places like Taieri Mouth have got to go all the way to Green Island to get their parcels.
"I don’t think it’s fair - it’s very inconvenient for people in our area."
Lotto ’N Things co-owner Jan Denny said she, too, was surprised and "disappointed" to be facing the closure of their postal agency and, if it went ahead, it meant there would only be one NZ Post outlet left in Oamaru.
"We will ask NZ Post to review their position and we’ll work hard to try and achieve this, so that this facility is not lost."
She said their service was expected to close on June 23. Until then, it would be "business as usual".
When asked why it was necessary to add two more stores to the list after not renewing the contracts at Kaikorai Valley and Weston, a NZ Post spokesman said there were not any "pre-determined requirements for the review".
"In October 2025, we were in the very early stages of the process where we had already identified some stores that we didn’t expect to be part of our network in the future.
"For practical reasons, it made sense for both the retail partner and NZ Post to remove services earlier in some of these stores. That included Kaikorai Valley Night ’n Day and Weston Four Square."
Since then, a wider review of the network involving analysis of customer patterns and store visits was done to understand how NZ Post was used.
"That informed the final network design that we have announced."
NZ Post consumer general manager Sarah Sandoval said NZ Post services would be removed from 142 urban retail partner stores nationwide in 2026, but 567 stores would remain.
"Over time, these changes will help us operate in a more sustainable and commercially responsible way, which is essential for ongoing improvements to stores, services and overall customer experience."
