By JOSIE CLARKE
Thousands of cheques sent through New Zealand Post boxes have disappeared over the last year, with hundreds more mislaid before finally turning up.
NZ Post was forced to reveal the figures after an Auckland man refused to accept its claim that the disappearance of his cheques was "unique."
Figures just released under the Official Information Act show that 2151 cheques posted at NZ Post boxes were reported missing in the year to March, and have never been seen again.
Another 307 cheques lost over the same period were eventually tracked down by customers or NZ Post.
NZ Post spokeswoman Karin Kos said 1.5 billion items were delivered each year. Of those, 15 letters in every million went missing (22,500 items).
"So when the figure is put into perspective, we've got a really good track record," she said.
"The public can be assured we have a dedicated security team."
Ms Kos said that incorrectly addressed items were the most common cause of lost mail.
The Office of the Ombudsmen ordered NZ Post to release the information following a request from Donald Watson of New Lynn, who refused to believe he was the only person to have lost a cheque in the mail.
Mr Watson has had six of his cheques, worth nearly $1000, go astray in the past few years. They were made payable to his wife's nursing home, a newspaper delivery agent and Amnesty International.
He believes NZ Post staff stole the cheques.
As recently as February, NZ Post told Mr Watson his complaint was unique.
The company's Auckland security advisor, Tony Doyle, wrote in a letter dated February 7: "You should be aware that this problem appears unique to you alone," before noting that none of the cheques had been presented at a bank and all had been sent on different dates.
Mr Doyle said it was "beyond the realms of possibility" that a NZ Post employee would have systematically stolen only Mr Watson's mail.
NZ Post's response has infuriated Mr Watson, despite the company gifting him a small wooden box holding $40 worth of stamps for his troubles.
"Their intention was to make me think I was the only one who'd complained."
He intends to take his complaint to the Auditor-General.
Your cheque is in the mail but it might never be seen again
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