New international mail services announced

For immediate release
6 August 1999

New international mail services announced

New Zealand Post today announced changes to its international mail services which will take effect from Monday 9 August. The changes were signalled at the company's annual result announcement in June.

"We are improving our international services, making them easier to understand, more flexible and offering more consistent delivery standards," says Michael Stewart, Marketing Manager New Zealand Post International Limited (NZPIL).

"This is the first major review we've undertaken for our international mail services in over a decade, and as a consequence, it also includes some price adjustments to reflect operational costs in today's international postal market."

The changes include:

· Streamlining existing services into three new enhanced services based on speed of delivery and added value services:

- Express International -a Track & Trace courier service to over 220 countries, with next day delivery to Australian centres and targeting within 2 days to the rest of the world. Has built-in insurance cover and additional cover options.

- Air International - Delivery in approximately one week with tracking options. Has built-in cover and option of additional cover to selected countries.

- Economy International - when time is not so important, with delivery to anywhere in the world within approximately three weeks. Has built-in cover and option of additional cover to selected countries.

· International letter price increases to:

- Post cards and aerogrammes anywhere in the world - up 10 cents to $1.10.
- Medium-size Air International letters to Australia and South Pacific - up
10 cents to $1.10.
- Medium-size Economy International letters to Australia and South Pacific - up 10 cents to 0.80 cents.

· A new continuous weight pricing system for international parcels where customers pay only for the weight of their parcel. As a result some parcel prices will increase and others will decrease.

"A review of our international products and services highlighted customer demand for simpler products with added value features. Our new range focuses on three new delivery speed options, and improved features such as the ability to trace items, increased cover options, and less documentation," says Michael Stewart.
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"The review also highlighted anomalies in price and product structures which had built up over the last ten years and so we have made price adjustments to some international letter and parcel services to reflect current operational costs. We are confident, however, that our international service remains very competitive."

Streamlining the services into three service ranges will see the end of SeaPost.

"Demand for the SeaPost service, particularly for lighter weight parcels under 2 kgs, has been steadily declining for some years. Customers who have previously used SeaPost will find that the Economy International service will deliver a faster service and at similar prices to SeaPost," says Mr Stewart.

Customers who previously sent items overseas by RegisteredPost International will now use the Express International service.

New Zealand Post International Limited will also introduce a range of specials and one-off offers during the year with the first offer an early-bird Christmas special for parcels to be announced soon.

The new services and changes come into effect on Monday 9 August.

Ends

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