Resolved to fight Post changes

Retired Masterton district councillor Roddy McKenzie is urging rural people to get behind the campaign to oppose a three-day-a-week postal delivery service, which he believes will severely affect the well-being and security of rural communities.

New Zealand Post recently proposed introducing a three-day-a-week postal service to cut costs after reconsidering its business model, which it said was rapidly heading into loss-making territory.

Mr McKenzie, who is vigorously opposed to the changes, attended a meeting in the Kopuaranga Hall on Monday and said the response from those present was one of determination to stand up for the rural postal service.

He said the intention was to set up a working group and elect officers to lead the fight against the proposed changes.

About 30 people were at the meeting and Mr McKenzie said many business owners and individuals were vocal about their concerns.

He said rural people were also worried about a lack of security if a three-day-week delivery was introduced.

"People are quite concerned because you can't treat urban and rural people the same, their needs are different," Mr McKenzie said.

"Posties are the eyes and ears of the road [in rural communities]. They know when somebody is sick, they see stock on the road and a lot of older people rely on them calling."

Most of the people who attended the meeting were from the Mauriceville and Mount Bruce areas, however, Mr McKenzie said he had spoken to a number of people who weren't able to attend from isolated areas such as Glenburn and Mataikona.

"A lot of those people don't have cellphone coverage or internet connections," he said.

"Now they're trying to take away their post."

Mr McKenzie said that while NZ Post had compiled a 61-page report into the proposed changes the report was "more or less about the cost of delivery."

"There's a lack of information which NZ Post have provided to us about the proposed changes and then they ask us to make submissions about it.

"We had a postie with us last night and he had trouble understanding [the changes]."

The Kopuaranga farmer said NZ Post was looking for submissions and were keen to review responses from rural areas. He said he believed if the response count was low "they'll do what they like" but, if there was a strong response, talks would have to take place.

"The first round is testing the waters. Then they'll decide 'Yes we're going to do it' or 'we'll talk to you'. That's the way we read it," he said.

Mr McKenzie expects another meeting will take place next month and is urging people to make their voices heard.

"We've lost schools and, if we don't stand up and be counted, our postal service will be next," he said.