9 June 2011

Locals fight to save iconic Grey Lynn Post Office

NZ Post was left in no doubt last night that Grey Lynners feel passionately about their Post Office (a Post Shop) and are willing to fight to save the services it provides and the historic building. At a public meeting hosted by community group Grey Lynn 2030 and the Grey Lynn Business Association over 50 locals called on NZ Post to urgently reconsider its decision.

Located on the corner of Williamson Ave and Great North Road, the NZ Post plans will see the relocation of the post office boxes and postal services from the Post Office building to a Post Centre franchisee. Kiwibank and bill payment services are to be discontinued. Four NZ Post staff also face an uncertain future.

“NZ Post has clearly misjudged the needs of the Grey Lynn community, many of whom are not internet savvy, and the importance of the Post Office in creating a vibrant hub that supports a lively shopping area for a range of businesses” says local hair dresser, Soala Wilson “I feel incredibly angry and saddened that NZ Post is planning on ripping out the heart of Grey Lynn"

Chair, John Elliott reminded the meeting that the new super city structure will only work if local communities are strengthened and sustainable. “The NZ Post plans are a backward step when Grey Lynn has been identified as a growth area by Auckland Council”

Cr Mike Lee, while acknowledging NZ Post's need to run at a profit, called on the company to consider its obligations to communities as set out in its Statement of Intent and grant a stay of execution until what he called a "community rescue team" led by local business people could come up with a solution which would enable continued postal, banking and bill paying services in Grey Lynn.

A resolution was unanimously passed at the meeting for a working group to be formed to negotiate with NZ Post to delay the closure and to reconsider the decision.

Government and Community Relations Manager Peter Fa’afiu, who fronted the meeting for NZ Post, said he had heard loud and clear the message from the Grey Lynn community. He acknowledged the passion for the Grey Lynn Post Office and committed to taking the proposal back to Wellington to discuss with CEO Brian Roche.

ends

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