Post Investigates Integration Of IT With Datacom

For immediate release 15 October 2001

NEW ZEALAND POST INVESTIGATES INTEGRATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES WITH DATACOM

New Zealand Post announced today that it was investigating the further integration of its IT and business services capabilities with Datacom NZ Ltd, in which it has a 30 per cent shareholding.

A review of the systems, processes and people of each organisation will be carried out over the next two months with a final decision expected at the end of November.

Chief Executive Elmar Toime said integration with Datacom would further improve the financial and service quality performance of New Zealand Post's information technology and business service functions.

"New Zealand Post is continually seeking new ways to improve company performance. By bringing together our expertise with that of Datacom, we expect the proposed consolidation will reduce costs and ensure that the best technology tools, systems and specialised skills are available to New Zealand Post and its customers.

"Integration would also produce the country's largest New Zealand-owned one-stop-shop for IT services, creating career development opportunities for staff and revenue growth for the business.

"The benefits of increased scale and combined expertise would not only enhance services for New Zealand Post and its diverse range of business units, in the longer-term it could also benefit many other New Zealand and international companies."

Mr Toime said he expected that positions would be offered to all existing New Zealand Post staff and the company had invited consultation with the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union.

The proposed integration would combine the expertise of around 250 New Zealand Post employees from the New Zealand Post Services Ltd subsidiary (including the business services, software development and IT components), parts of New Zealand Post's Information and Technology Management group and the existing parts of Datacom that work on New Zealand Post's IT activities.

Datacom already manages the New Zealand Post computer network and production environment for applications and develops specialist postal software such as PostLink - New Zealand Post's point of sale retail system. Datacom employs more than 1250 staff and supplies custom software development, outsourced services, and technology support to a wide range of customers in New Zealand and overseas.

ENDS

For further information contact; Simon Taylor, External Relations Manager 025-248-6715 simon.taylor@nzpost.co.nz

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