NZ Post moves to close more than 140 post office counters across the country is raising serious Grey Power concerns as to the impact on older New Zealanders, particularly those in rural and small-town communities.
NZ Post has stated publicly that following the closures, no customer will need to travel more than four kilometres from a closed outlet to access postal services. Grey Power Federation national president, Gayle Chambers says in practice, this is not always the case.
“In an interview with Radio New Zealand, a Paekākāriki dairy owner, whose postal agency had been closed, said that the next available outlet was in Paraparaumu, approximately nine kilometres by road from his store,” Mrs Chambers says.
“The reality [of the closures] is far more difficult for seniors living with limited transport options. The Federation is concerned about the growing inconvenience to aged customers and the deeper implications of this nationwide downsizing.
“I predict that in 10-15 years there will be no postal service and this is just a start to a long line of closures.”
On another note, Mrs Chambers says banks were also quietly reducing staffing levels and face-to-face services in rural branches. She notes many were closing altogether or converting to ‘digital-only’ services.
“Seniors, who often rely on in-person support for financial transactions, are increasingly finding themselves disconnected, disadvantaged, and disempowered by decisions made without adequate community consultation,” she says.
“Grey Power believes these closures are not just a matter of inconvenience; they pose a serious threat to seniors’ access to essential services, financial independence, and social inclusion.”
In light of closures and staff reductions, the Federation is urging NZ Post, banks, and central government to pause further cuts and reassess the true impact on communities.
“They need to develop a fairer, more inclusive plan for service delivery which respects the needs of older New Zealanders.”