NZ Post has confirmed that it is partnering with Paper Plus Howick from Monday August 26.
Kiwibank announced last September it is to close its Howick branch and that New Zealand Post would look for a local business to take up some of its services.
NZ Post said this week that collaborating with Paper Plus Howick would help to deliver postal services and bill payments currently available from the Howick NZ Post and Kiwibank. The new agency will be directly across the road from the current PostShop.
New Zealand Post head of retail Mark Yagmich said in a media statement that the group is thrilled to be working with Paper Plus Howick.
“We already successfully work with businesses in this way in over 800 locations across the country, and have done in many locations for years. While we acknowledge this is a change in how people access these services, we do hope people enjoy the fact our new partner is located just right across the road from our current location,” he said.
“This model of working with local businesses works well for our customers, who often enjoy longer opening hours.
“It is also more financially sustainable for NZ Post, in an ever-changing mix of postal services usage – the decline of mail, versus the significant increase in parcel services. It’s also good for the businesses we work with, as they enjoy additional income both from transacting postal services on our behalf and by having more customers coming through their doors to pick up their parcel or send a postcard,” he says.
NZ Post said there will be no changes to the services available at the Howick PostShop until August 26.
The Howick PO Box Lobby will remain in Howick, and NZ Post will be communicating directly with customers.
Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown is welcoming the news that New Zealand Post is retaining postal and bill paying services in Howick via its partnership with Paper Plus.
“There has been a lot of uncertainty in the area following the announcement last year that the NZ Post branch in Howick would be closing, but I am pleased that NZ Post followed through on their commitment to retain local services.”