John Maynard: Postal Workers Union critical of NZ Post service reduction

The Government has signed off changes that let NZ Post cut back to just two delivery days a week in towns and three in rural areas.

Postal Workers Union co-president John Maynard said to Ryan Bridge that they are 'very critical' of the decision as it appears NZ Post prioritises returning a dividend to the Government over it's customers.

But NZ Post says nothing is changing yet, and rural communities will still get extra protections under this new deal.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Another post. You shake up the government letting New Zealand
Post count back to just two delivery days a week
in town's three in rural areas. Nothing changing straight away,
but the levers there to pull. John Maynard, as co
president of the Postal Workers Union, Good morning, John.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Are good morning?

Speaker 1 (00:14):
Your thoughts.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Well, it's not entirely unexpected because we've been very critical
of New Zealand Posts really failing to fight its corner
and energetically comply if you like, with the State and
Enterprises Act. It's required the companies required to operate as
a private company like any other private company, but they

(00:36):
also have a requirement in the State and Enterprises Act
to have regard for the interests of the community, and
that proposal is from Mby allowing New zim Post to
drop rural delivery to three days a week is a
huge hit for the people living in those areas and
of course for the relationship they have with the courier

(00:56):
right with the real delivery drivers for their mail was
six days a week, now it's five days a week.
Their mail and their supplies.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
John, most people listening to this probably haven't sent a
letter in I don't know years. Can you know, do
we have to be practical and reasonable about this.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
They may not have sent too many letters, but they
get letters, They get mail, and particularly people in the
rural areas. We know there's a very strong reaction from
them when it went from six days to five, so
we understand they'll be pretty upset when it goes from
five to four. But they don't just get mail, they
do get other supplies. And yes, New Zealand Post is

(01:35):
required to operate as any other company and make a
profit and the government governments have been really strict on
New Zealand Posts returning a dividend to the government. So
it's almost like it's more important to return to give
dividend to the government than to provide the sort of
service that's really important for people in rural areas.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
John, appreciate your time this morning, Thanks so much for
being with me. It's John Maynard, co president of the
Postal Workers' Union. For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge,
listen live to News Talks at b from five am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.