NZ Post To Provide Ticketing For Wellington Rugby

For immediate release 5 December 2001

NEW ZEALAND POST TO PROVIDE TICKETING FOR WELLINGTON RUGBY

New Zealand Post has secured the contract with Wellington Rugby to provide ticketing for three years from the 2002 season onwards, including the Telecom New Zealand International Sevens, Telecom Super 12, NPC matches and an All Blacks test.

Manager for ticketing services, Chris Harris, said tickets would be available throughout New Zealand Post's nationwide network of 314 Post Shops and Books & more stores, as well as through the Internet and telephone bookings on 0800 000 575.

"With 78 Post Shops in the lower North Island region alone, we're looking forward to providing increased convenience to fans of Wellington Rugby and the Hurricanes," Mr Harris said.

New Zealand Post will sell the tickets under the brand name 'Red Tickets'.

Wellington Rugby Chief Executive Malcolm Holmes said the move to New Zealand Post reflected a desire to make tickets more accessible to fans.

"Through Red Tickets, fans across Wellington and the Hurricanes region will now have a multitude of places to choose from when buying their rugby tickets.

"In Taranaki, for example, there will be nine outlets where previously there was only one option available to Hurricanes fans.

"The increased accessibility also provides more of a level playing field for fans in outlying areas wanting to go to events, such as the annual Wellington test match, that have a limited number of tickets available for public sale," Mr Holmes said.

Mr Harris said New Zealand Post would offer a wider range of payment options.

"Customers who haven't been able to buy tickets over the phone or through the Internet because they don't have a credit card will now be able to do so using cash or EFTPOS at our Post Shops and Books & more stores.

"To deliver a fast ticket service, Post Shops will be selling 'best available' seating. This means customers will be able to choose a ticket within a particular price range, or within a particular area of a ground, and the 'best available' seat within that range will be chosen for them by the ticketing system. This is the same for every customer, whichever Post Shop they are in at the time.

"Freephone telephones will also be available in our Post Shops for customers to call our dedicated 0800 number if they prefer to book specific seats."

Mr Harris said New Zealand Post was experienced in providing ticket sales to the public.

"New Zealand Post has been selling Waikato Rugby tickets since April 1999. We have an experienced team and we've installed secure ticket printing machines throughout all of our Post Shops and Books & more stores."

NEW ZEALAND POST TICKETING KEY FACTS:

* New Zealand Post has 314 Post Shops and Books & more stores nationwide where tickets can be purchased.

* Tickets will also be available through 0800 000 575 and an Internet site soon to be developed.

* 78 shops are located in the lower North Island (Hurricanes) region.

* 24 of these are open Saturdays, and three are open Saturday and Sunday.

* Post Shop and Books & more customers will be able to buy 'best available' seating.

* Freephone telephones are available in-store to allow customers to choose a particular ticket.

* Each shop has been fitted with a secure ticketing printer.

* New Zealand Post will provide customers with wider payment options -- customers without credit cards who have not been previously able to buy tickets by telephone or Internet will be able to pay by cash and EFTPOS in Post Shops and Books & more stores.

* A standard charge of $1.25 per ticket applies for purchases made at a Post Shop or Books & more store.

* A standard charge of $6.00 per transaction applies for tickets purchased through the call centre or Internet, with a further $3.00 charge for courier delivery.

ENDS

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