NZ Post price hike could cut off rural communities

From July 1, New Zealand Post is hiking its postage price for bulk mail customers by a substantial 30%. If this price increase goes ahead, the cost of sending mail will have increased 100% in the last five years.

Affected groups are lobbying the Government to amend the deed of understanding that exists between the Government and state-owned NZ Post.

The deed’s purpose is to ensure equal access to the postal network for all individuals, communities and businesses who rely on it. However, it only sets out requirements for points of access and frequency of delivery with no mention of price. 

The group, made up of representatives from rural communities, not-for-profits, the print and magazine industry and other affected businesses, says an urgent amendment to the deed of understanding is needed as price directly impacts accessibility.

It says access points and delivery days are irrelevant if the price is too high for New Zealanders to put anything in the post box.

Gabrielle O’Brien, chief executive of Rural Women New Zealand says she is particularly concerned about people living in rural New Zealand where the postal service provides a vital connection to each other, to the rest of the country and the world.

“The reality is that for parts of rural and remote New Zealand, there is no choice about the use of post and therefore we implore the Government to hold NZ Post to account,” says O’Brien.

“Whilst digital connectivity is improving, there are many New Zealanders in these remote communities who do not have consistent, reliable connectivity and who rely on the postal service to run their businesses and to keep informed.”

Jan Pentecost, national president of Grey Power New Zealand, says the elderly are reliant on postal services and the price increase will greatly affect these vulnerable members of the community.

“Grey Power NZ is very concerned about NZ Post's proposed 30% cost rise. For many older people who are digitally excluded, writing a letter to friends and family is one of their main traditional communication methods in this world of social isolation when no family or friends live nearby,” says Pentecost.