Dunedin Metro post office doors to close – management refuse to front

Media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday 23 June 2011

The Dunedin Metro Postshop and Kiwibank will shut its doors today after a hard fought community campaign against the closure.

Save Dunedin Metro Postshop and Kiwibank campaign spokesperson Victor Billot says a cake and a card were delivered to staff this morning to thank them for their great service to Dunedin people over the years at Dunedin Metro.

He says the campaign has not kept the doors open on the post office, as over a century of post office services in the Exchange area comes to an end.

"We do not consider our campaign a failure. With little warning, no consultation, and a total lack of interest in what their customers think, the failure is with New Zealand Post management. The buck stops at the top – mystery man CEO Brian Roche who refuses to front up to the public."

He says the new motto for New Zealand Post should be "the customer is always wrong."

"New Zealand Post management have badly damaged the respect and loyalty of their customers in Dunedin."

The Omsbudsman would be approached as New Zealand Post was failing to consult with its stakeholders and fulfill its social responsibility, the group believed.

Mr Roche has not personally replied to any requests or correspondence, and instead Dunedin people have been treated to a stream of increasingly patronizing responses from head office public relations staff.

Mr Billot says people will be closely watching the problems associated with pushing customers towards the congested Moray Place and South Dunedin Post Shops.

"This decision has harmed Dunedin and it has harmed the businesses and local community."

Over 2500 signatures have been sent to NZ Post CEO, public meetings and rallies held, hundreds of personal letters and emails, and "stamp mobs" formed at post offices to buy symbolic stamps.

The decision to close has been criticized by local MPs, the City Council, Chamber of Commerce and Unions Otago.

A last minute meeting this week between the campaign group and Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull resulted in the Mayor asking New Zealand Post management on national television to consider keeping some postal services at Dunedin Metro, an offer which was refused without consideration.

Mr Billot says that NZ Post could still offer limited services at Dunedin Metro if they wanted as a staff counter would be kept open at the remaining post boxes.

ENDS

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