Manukau ratepayers are taking their rate payments to NZ Post outlets in bigger numbers than expected.

From 17 April Manukau City water and land ratepayers could pay their rates at NZ Post outlets. This change was initiated because of the security risk in having cash accepted at ward centres.

Wayne Goodley says that while ratepayers can still pay at ward centres up until 30 June, a larger number than anticipated have already made the move to NZ Post outlets.

“About 12,000 transactions have gone through NZ Post in the first month. This is 36 percent of our total rates counter transactions for the month. This is a fantastic response” he says.

“NZ Post has 322 outlets around the country – giving our ratepayers more options in where they pay their rates. We’ve had people paying at places like Wellington, Whakatane, Whitianga, Waiheke and Waipukurau!”

Council staff have been monitoring NZ Post’s service over the past month to ensure that ratepayers get at least the same level of service that they received at ward centres.

“We’re measuring things like how long people have to wait in queues, the helpfulness and friendliness of the tellers and whether the number of booths open are sufficient for the number of people waiting to be served.” says Mr Goodley.

“Initially we’d had some concern expressed by some ratepayers that the queues would be too long. However our survey tells us that the average wait in a queue is only 3 minutes – while the queues may look long, they move very quickly. The response on teller helpfulness is overwhelmingly positive, and generally the number of booths open is appropriate.

“Council is very pleased with progress so far. Ideally we’d like people to pay their rates by direct debit, automatic payment or reply paid post as these methods are the most economic to Council. However, Council is committed to providing ratepayers with a wide choice of payment options.. We’d like to remind ratepayers that after 1 July counter rate payments can only be made at Council’s Citizen & Customer Centre at Kotuku House, Manukau city centre or NZ Post outlets.”

ENDS

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