WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) New Zealand's postal service announced Friday it plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs as it transitions to delivering the mail just three days a week to most customers.
The job cuts amount to about one-fifth of the service's workforce and will be implemented over three years.
As part of the cutbacks, the familiar sight of postal workers cycling their routes will disappear. Workers will use a combination of motorized vehicles and walking as they deliver more parcels and far fewer letters.
New Zealand Post made the announcement after the government last week agreed to allow it to reduce its six-day delivery service from mid-2015 in urban areas.
Rural residents, who make up about 12 percent of customers, will get their mail delivered five days a week.