Rally to save Dunedin Metro Post Shop and Kiwibank

Dunedin people will rally in the Exchange today to save the Dunedin Metro Post Shop and Kiwibank from closure by New Zealand Post management.

The rally will start at 12 noon Monday 23 May 2011.

The rally is part of a local campaign that includes a petition to New Zealand Post and a Facebook page.

A website had been set up at http://www.savedunedinmetropost.tumblr.com

One of the organizers of the campaign, Dunedin Metro Post Shop customer Victor Billot, says the positive response to the campaign has exceeded expectations.

"Last week, volunteers on our lunchtime stalls outside the Dunedin Metro Post Shop in the Exchange collected over 1000 signatures from customers."

"We are expecting several hundred more signatures to be returned as many local businesses have had the petition circulating amongst customers and staff, and people have taken them away to be filled in."

Mr Billot says there was a high level of concern and annoyance amongst local people.

"People feel this is a decision being made in a corporate head office in Wellington. Have the people who make these decisions ever visited this post office or talked to its customers?"

One of the concerns was that the closure would inconvenience customers, many of whom appreciated the relative ease of parking and accessibility of the Dunedin Metro branch, especially for businesses based outside of the CBD.

A common theme was how the nearest Post Shop in Moray Place was already very busy, with no available parking and in a congested area of the city.

Some customers had been forced to come down to the Exchange after the recent closure of the Mornington Post Shop and were now being told they had to travel even further.

Several local property managers were concerned about the effect on tenants.

Mr Billot says he had spoken to local business owners who were concerned that the removal of a vital facility like this would have an adverse impact on the regeneration of the whole Exchange area.

Many retired people and beneficiaries found the Dunedin Metro Post Shop easily accessible to bus routes.

Other customers expressed their support for staff at the Dunedin Metro Post Shop and Kiwibank, who were helpful and efficient.

There were fears that the closures were part of an attack on public services and a run down of Kiwibank by the Government.

Mr Billot says New Zealand Post management would be invited to receive the petition in person outside the Dunedin Metro Post Shop. If they did not want to front up, the petition would be posted from the Dunedin Metro Post Shop.